FRANCISCO JOUBERT BERNARD, a Puerto Rican bassoonist, is the second bassoonist in the, Grammy Award Winning, Louisville Orchestra and a lecturer at the University of Louisville. He holds a B.M. from the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico and an M.M. from the Yale School of Music. Before his current roles, he was a bassoon fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami, where he performed with renowned artists worldwide, including a live solo performance for composer John Williams (in audience) conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.
Beyond his work with the Louisville Orchestra, Francisco has played with esteemed groups like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. He actively promotes music education, coaching for programs like the National Youth Orchestra and VIA Academy, and offering masterclasses. He’s also created an online platform for Spanish-speaking bassoon learners.
With a passion for diverse musical genres, Francisco extends the bassoon’s reach through his online persona, VG Bassoonist. In 2022, he was honored as one of Sphinx’s MPower Artist Grant recipients, furthering his mission to inspire and educate young bassoonists through online platforms.