WMPI Alumni Spotlight: Jack Bernal
Jack with his woodwind quintet after a chamber performance at the Shepherd School of Music
Jack with fellow bassoon section colleague after a Shepherd School of Music orchestra concert
Introducing bassoonist and WMPI 2023 alumnus, Jack Bernal!
During his years at Wootton High School in Maryland, Jack studied with Joey Grimmer through WMPI and the NSO Youth Fellowship and participated in the DC Youth Orchestra Program, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, National Youth Orchestra USA, and Equity Arc Pathways Orchestra. Now a sophomore bassoon performance major at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in the studio of Benjamin Kamins, Jack is building on his tremendous musical resume. He was recently named a winner of Rice University’s Concerto Competition and will pursue his orchestral aspirations this summer at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center. Enjoy our Q&A with Jack!
Interview by Gianna Milan
Studio Class with Professor Benjamin Kamins and fellow Rice University bassoonists
Give us a rundown of your stellar spring at Rice!
To start off, in early March, I found out I was selected for a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) in Lenox, Massachusetts this summer. And then later in March, we had our concerto competition at Rice, and I fortunately won the winds division. I’m now going to perform the Hummel Bassoon Concerto with the Shepherd School Orchestra next year, which is a huge honor. Having these accomplishments come to fruition side-by-side was a strong showing of my progress. Also, more recently, I was selected as a finalist for a major bassoon competition at the International Double Reed Society, so I’m heading to Indianapolis in June. It’s going to be a really busy summer, to say the least, but I’m excited!
Who or what motivated you to go after these pursuits?
A mix of self-drive and encouragement from others. Coming into my sophomore year, I really wanted to dive into solo repertoire and set plans for next summer. When I communicated this with my teacher and studio, they all thought it’d be great for me to go for those three opportunities specifically. So I’ve been practicing a lot this year to prepare, and I’m feeling more seasoned in how I work my own interpretations into playing excerpts and solos.
What are you most looking forward to about TMC?
Our performance with Yuja Wang — she’s coming to play Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto #1 with the TMC Orchestra. Getting to work with such a renowned international soloist is really exciting. Also, we’ll have a roster of rotating conductors, including Andris Nelson (Boston Symphony Orchestra music director) and Esa-Pekka Salonen (San Francisco Symphony music director), who all have diverse styles. I’m looking forward to working with and learning from them.
Can you talk about some past WMPI experiences that you’d say really prepared you for the next level of musicianship?
WMPI’s masterclasses and recitals really helped me get a better sense of how to perform for audiences. I became way more comfortable getting up on stage and playing with my own artistic spin, which has been a big thing for me this year. WMPI also prepared me to go to the Equity Arc Pathways Orchestra, NYO-USA, and other great festivals and financially supported me throughout those processes. Those experiences led me to find a community of musicians striving for the same goals, and that really inspired me to stay motivated and work hard to achieve those goals.
What’s your advice for current WMPI students?
Say “yes” to as many things as you can! I’ve been approached with tons of requests to play compositions, recital collaborations, and other orchestral concerts. It’s not only great playing experience but also a wonderful way to meet new people and connect with fellow musicians. Also, just keeping an open mind and being very curious in the music world is extremely important; that’s how you get your name out there and become a seasoned musician. And of course, stay dedicated. Be involved in some form of music throughout the day, whether that’s score studying, practicing, or even listening to other people. That’s all really useful.
What are your long-term goals and dreams in music?
In college, I want to fully expand my artistic capability, both in an orchestral and soloistic sense, and just become the “full package” as a musician and bassoonist as I transition into the professional world. After college, I aim to play bassoon professionally in an orchestra. Beyond performing, I’m really passionate about taking part in diversity initiatives like WMPI and Equity Arc. I aspire to lend a helping hand toward making the classical music world a more diverse and approachable place.
Lastly, what’s music school with your twin brother like?! (Jack’s brother, Ande Bernal, is a double bass performance major, and the duo was spotlighted in a reel on the Shepherd School’s social media.)
We’re so lucky that we both ended up at our top choice college with great teachers and great people to work with! And I get to see him every day at orchestra! Having Ande here is such a special experience because I get to enjoy so much musical dialogue with him. We’re always bouncing our musical ideas off each other, and it’s really expanded my way of thinking.