Cara Bernard

Associate Clinical Professor of Music Education

Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University

Cara Bernard is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Connecticut in the Neag School of Education, where she teaches courses in choral and elementary methods, curriculum, and supervises student teaching.

Dr. Bernard currently serves on the editorial committees of Music Educators Journal, Arts Education Policy Review, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Journal of Popular Music Education, and serves as associate editor of Visions of Research in Music Education. She has served on the CT State Education Department’s Arts Equity Incentive Committee and the National ACDA Diversity Initiative Sub-Committee, where she created policy, curriculum, and outreach to make the Arts accessible and equitable for all students. Currently, she is President of CT American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).

Dr. Bernard’s research areas include music teacher evaluation and policy, teacher education, choral music education, urban music education, and diversity and access. She was a recipient of the 2015 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Council of Research in Music Education and the 2013 Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award. She is the co-author of the recently released book Teacher Evaluation in Music: A Guide for Teachers in the US, published by Oxford University Press.

As a conductor-teacher, Dr. Bernard has been invited by choral organizations and state music education associations across the country to give workshops and lead festival performances for students and teachers. She has conducted, performed, and prepared choruses for performances at some of the most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater to the Museum of Modern Art. Dr. Bernard was the director and conductor of the Count Me In program at Carnegie Hall, where she designed and implemented a vocal and choral curriculum for beginning-level middle school music students. Additionally, she worked with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City™ in their School Choral Program, working with New York City public schools to bring a choral experience to over 1,000 children throughout the city. Prior to these appointments, Dr. Bernard enjoyed many years of teaching high school chorus, general music, and piano in the New York City public schools. Currently, she is the co-music director of SoHo Voce, a women’s a cappella ensemble based in New York City. Dr. Bernard holds degrees from Teachers College of Columbia University, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and New York University.