Bernadette Balkus

 

Since her return from America in 1997, where she performed and taught for 8 years, mainly in Boston, Bernadette has given concerts in all States of Australia and in New Zealand for Musica Viva. With her brother Michael Kieran Harvey she formed the highly acclaimed Australian Virtuosi in 1998 and released her first CD The Glass House was released. Australian Virtuosi won the 1999 Australian Entertainment Industry's 'Mo' award for best classical music performance of the year with a stunning performance of Messiaen’s Visions of the Amen and won the award again in subsequent years. In the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 Bernadette had a full round of engagements which included performances with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, CD recordings, recordings for the ABC, solo recitals and performances with the Australian Virtuosi.

In recent years Bernadette has appeared at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and in 2003 she gave the world premiere performance of Melbourne composer Tim Dargaville’s first piano concerto written for her. She has also formed a duo with soprano Sara Macliver and has given a number of concerts with her including Jane Austen: A Life in Music for Musica Viva which toured throughout Australia in 2004. Bernadette has also appeared at various festivals and in The Shock of the New with the Sydney Symphony in 2005.

2006 engagements included performances with the Seymour Group, concerts at the NSW Art Gallery, Sunday Live, concerts with Sara Macliver, Diana Doherty and several festivals around Australia and New Zealand.

2007 engagements included concerts in Perth, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, a solo CD recording, concerts with the Australia Ensemble and the Sydney Soloists, and other engagements in Australia and New Zealand.