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Barbara Faulkner Bernard
Sometimes credited as: Barbara Faulkner, Barbara Bernard, Barbara Faulkner-Bernard
Vocal Range: Soprano · Hair Color: Blonde · Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee · Born: 5/19/1934 · Died: 2/7/2009 · High School: McDonough High School · College: Loyola University Of The South
Barbara Faulkner Bernard passed from this life on Saturday morning, February 07, 2009. Barbara was born on May 19, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Herbert Penson Faulkner & Kathleen Virginia Smith, both of Alabama. She was raised the majority of her life in New Orleans. She attended Gentilly Terrace Grammar ...Read More
Barbara Faulkner Bernard passed from this life on Saturday morning, February 07, 2009. Barbara was born on May 19, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Herbert Penson Faulkner & Kathleen Virginia Smith, both of Alabama. She was raised the majority of her life in New Orleans. She attended Gentilly Terrace Grammar School, McDonough High School, and Loyola University as a vocal performance major. She was quickly recognized as one of the most promising young sopranos in New Orleans and the surrounding area. This was evident by her winning the regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions at the age of 24 years old and being a contestant in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in New York. She became known as one of the finest sopranos to ever come out of New Orleans. She was awarded the National Singer of the Year prize by the National Association of Teachers of Singing in 1960, and throughout her signing career, she performed in every venue including opera, symphony engagements, concerts, recitals, as well as musical theater. With the New Orleans Opera, her tenure spanned 43 years performing 18 different roles in 59 performances. She performed with such international opera singers such as Sherrill Milnes, Bianca Berini, and Richard Tucker. Barbara's remarkable vocal ability easily crossed over from classical to musical theater. She could regularly be heard at NORD Theater, Gallery Circle Theater, Le Petit Theater, The Beverly Dinner Playhouse, and Tulane Summer Lyric. She was known for many signature roles in musical theater as well as opera, most notably, the Mother Superior in "The Sound of Music". Barbara also had a thriving private voice studio for over 30 years and was regarded as one of the foremost voice teachers in New Orleans. She taught hundreds of students, many of whom went on to perform in opera, television, film and on Broadway. She was the soprano soloist at Temple Sinai for over 40 years, and was the organist at St. Anthony of Padua Church for 25 years. She is survived by her husband of 49 years Donald J. Bernard, son David, daughter Donna Kerber, daughter in law, Cyndi Bernard, son in law, Patrick Kerber and 5 grandchildren, Megan and Jessica Kerber; Kelly, Brett and Hallie Bernard. She is also survived by 2 sisters, Betty Mouritsen of Denmark and Beverly Ben of Houston, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Brenda Matesky.
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