Colleen Bernstein

Biography

Colleen Bernstein is an award-winning percussionist, educator, and creative collaborator. She has been featured in performances with Grammy winners including Béla Fleck, Tania León, and the Silkroad Ensemble. Colleen currently holds percussion chairs for Spamalot (St. James Theatre) and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She has also performed on The Music Man, The Phantom of the Opera, Some Like it Hot, and Six, and works regularly with a range of other projects including American Symphony, Harlem Chamber Players, and Talea Ensemble.

Colleen is a performer and teaching artist with American Wild Ensemble, as well as a soloist recognized for her passionate performances. Recent solo engagements include a concerto performance with Albany Symphony Orchestra (NY), and sets at the MATA Festival, New Music Gathering, World Vibes Congress, and Oh My Ears Festival. In 2018, Colleen founded Strength & Sensitivity, a performance project and collaborative platform mixing contemporary music and poetry to catalyze dialogue about gender equality and intersectional feminism.

Colleen is on faculty at Hunter College and William Paterson University, where she teaches percussion and music education courses. Colleen holds degrees and certificates from the Eastman School of Music, University of Michigan, and Global Leaders Institute. She resides in New York City.