Song recitals sit at the heart of Jean Bernard Cerin’s performance output each season with Kuwento Mizik, the Lisette Project, and collaborators throughout the United States. His broad repertoire ranges from the standard romantic and early twentieth century vocal recital literature to collaborations with living composers and explorations outside of the western canon. In recent seasons, Jean Bernard premiered songs by Melissa Dunphy (Eat the Rich), Gilda Lyons (El Zopilote), and John Conohan (Shenandoh & Big Rock Candy Mountains), Don Saint Pierre (Rumi Songs), and Mark Rimple (Politic Bodies). Recital engagements this season include “A Transatlantic Liederabend” with pianist Xak Bjerken at Cornell University, a program of Italian songs with LyricFest in Philadelphia, two performances of Lisette: a Song’s Journey from Haiti and Back in Denver CO and Philadelphia PA, and a Lieder program with pianist Sezi Seskir at Bucknell University. On the operatic stage, he makes his company debut with Opera LaFayette in Washington DC this spring in a modern premier of Mouret’s Les Fêtes de Thalie. Jean Bernard lives in Ithaca, NY where he serves as an assistant professor and director of the Voice Program in the Department of Music at Cornell University.
Mayfest 