Bernhard Scully

Growing up in a family of musicians, Bernhard began playing the horn when he was eleven. Prior to the horn he played both violin and piano. In high school he lived in Minnesota. During that time he studied with Kendall Betts of the Minnesota Orchestra. He played with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony and the Minnesota Youth Symphony.

Bernhard received numerous awards at the time including being a finalist for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Young Artist Competition, and playing Strauss’ Second Horn Concerto with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony.

Bernhard received his Bachelors degree with honors from Northwestern University in Evanston IL. He received a Masters degree in horn performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a distinguished Collins Fellow. He won the University of Wisconsin-Madison Concerto Competition with the Gliere Horn Concerto in 2004. His teachers include Hermann Baumann, Kendall Betts, Douglas Hill, Roland Pandolfi, and Gail Williams.

Bernhard has played with numerous groups throughout the Midwest including the Sinfonia da Camera in Champagne Illinois, the South Dakota Symphony, as a regular long-term substitute with the Minnesota Orchestra, and with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, among many others. He has been integrally involved with the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, in Littleton New Hampshire, over the past eight years, being on the staff and on the faculty. He has participated in a number of chamber music festivals including Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Madeline Island in Bayfield WI, and the North Country Chamber Players in Littleton NH.

Bernhard competed in the 2004 Geneva International Horn Competition in Switzerland, being the only American invited. In 2003 he was a prize winner in the WAMSO competition of the Minnesota Orchestra, which included an opportunity to play the Gliere Concerto with the Saint Paul Civic Symphony.

Prior to joining the Brass, Bernhard played second horn in the Madison Symphony and second horn in the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. He's been an active recitalist, chamber musician, and teacher.

Bernhard is married to a great woman named Sarah who is a music therapist. They live together in Madison, Wisconsin where they enjoy running, biking, and playing with their cat, Sibelius.