Valerie Bernhardt, soprano
Acclaimed in the German press for her “phenomenal coloratura-technique and superior high register”, soprano Valerie Bernhardt’s voice has also been praised for her “molten mezzo quality and lovely high range” by the Washington Post.
Recently, Valerie was pleased to make her debut with the Lyric Opera of Rochester, reprising the role of Victoria Woodhull in Victoria Bond’s Mrs. President.
Ms. Bernhardt’s 2014-2015 season saw her join the Lyric Opera of Chicago where she covered the role of Elisabeth in its production of Tannhäuser. During the 2013-14 season, she reprised the role of Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco with ArtsNaples World Festival/Opera Naples, sang the title role in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah with Coro Lirico in Morristown, NJ, and was the soprano soloist in Bruckner’s Te Deum with the New Jersey Symphony at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark NJ
Ms. Bernhardt has earned two graduate degrees in voice from The Juilliard School, and has trained at the
opera programs at Chautauqua, Aspen, The Pittsburgh Opera Center, and the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program.
Valerie was a participant in the Wagner Emerging Singers Program founded by the late Evelyn Lear and
Thomas Stewart under the auspices of the Wagner Society of Washington, DC.
Valerie has distinguished herself in various competitions, including the 2007 Liederkranz Foundation
Competition (3rd Prize, Wagner Division) as well as the Palm Beach Vocal Competition, and Opera at
Florham Vocal Competition, and has won career grants from The Wagner Society of Washington, DC, The
Wagner Society of New York, Opera Index, and The Sullivan Foundation.