Mr. Barry W. Bernhardt, (Director of Bands), joined the faculty at Florida International University in 2010. At FIU, Professor Bernhardt conducts the FIU Marching Band, Court Side Players, Panther Gold Performance Ensemble and the FIU Symphonic Band. In addition, Bernhardt has taught courses in Instrumental Conducting, Music Education and Evolution of Jazz. Bernhardt is also the Area Coordinator for Winds, Brass and Percussion in the School of Music, where he oversees 6 major ensembles and 10 full-time and adjunct professors.
Prior to coming to FIU in 2010, Mr. Bernhardt was the Director of Bands at Southeast Missouri State University (1990 - 2010), the Associate Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University (1988 - 1990), the Assistant Director of Bands/California State University – Long Beach (1984 - 1988), the Assistant Director of Bands at Truman State University (1982 - 1988) and the Director of Bands at South Shelby High School (1981 - 1982). Professor Bernhardt holds both the Bachelor of Music Education Degree (1981) and the Master of Arts Degree, in Music Education with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting and Trumpet Performance (1984) from Truman State University.
Professor Bernhardt has been on the production/adjudication staff of Bowl Games of America/Sky’s the Limit Productions/Heritage Music Festivals for 35 years and annually choreographs the halftime shows for Champs Sports, Orange, TaxSlayer, Sugar, Liberty, Alamo, Holiday and Fiesta Bowl. Bernhardt has conducted Halftime performances for 6 NCAA National Championship Football Games, (3) Sugar Bowl , (3) Orange Bowl. He has been on the production staff for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four/Basketball for 10 years. In addition, he has been on the production staff for Indy 500, NASCAR, MLB, and NFL.
Bernhardt is in constant demand as a guest conductor, clinician, drill designer/choreographer and adjudicator throughout the United States. He holds membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, The Florida Music Educators Association, The Florida Bandmasters Association, CBDNA and Phi Beta Mu.
