Biography
Bernie Lagana is a Sydney-based freelance musician. He graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2013 with a Bachelor of Classical Saxophone. Since Graduating, he has been paving a career for himself in many arenas of the music industry.
Bernie has spent the last few years working in Sydney's Music Theatre scene. In November 2017, Bernie made his debut as a Keyboard Associate Musical Director on High Fidelity. He has played the reed book on You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Mack and Mabel, Cabaret, Melba and is currently playing for Assassins at the Opera House. In 2016, he was part of the Orchestra for Defying Gravity: A tribute to Stephen Schwartz featuring some of Broadway’s and Australia’s most respected talent. In 2016, Bernie was a deputy on Dreamlover.
As part of saxophone/percussion duo Translucent Duo he is presenting HSC music workshops on new, Australian music commissioned for the Duo. The Duo released their debut album In-Sync in 2016 and premiering their concerto Cog composed by Steven Kreamer, with the Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra. They will be performing this work again in June as part of WPO’s True Blue program.
In 2014, Bernie was the woodwind specialist in the “HALCats” band on board the MS Rotterdam Cruise Ship. From 2010-2017, Bernie was part of the 11-piece Brass Band “Hot Potato Band”, playing venues and festivals across Australia. He is also involved in various projects as freelance performer, recording artist and musical director.
Outside of performing, Bernie has also been working as a composer, transcriber and arranger for numerous projects. Most recently, he has been on the arranging teams for Southern Stars, Broadway Reimagined and Epiphanies. He also writes and arranges for school ensembles.
Being passionate about education; Bernie holds tutoring and conducting positions in both public and private schools, as well as tutoring regularly on state and regional level music camps. He proudly holds the saxophone tutor position for The Arts Unit Wind Band program.
Bernie has spent the last few years working in Sydney's Music Theatre scene. In November 2017, Bernie made his debut as a Keyboard Associate Musical Director on High Fidelity. He has played the reed book on You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Mack and Mabel, Cabaret, Melba and is currently playing for Assassins at the Opera House. In 2016, he was part of the Orchestra for Defying Gravity: A tribute to Stephen Schwartz featuring some of Broadway’s and Australia’s most respected talent. In 2016, Bernie was a deputy on Dreamlover.
As part of saxophone/percussion duo Translucent Duo he is presenting HSC music workshops on new, Australian music commissioned for the Duo. The Duo released their debut album In-Sync in 2016 and premiering their concerto Cog composed by Steven Kreamer, with the Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra. They will be performing this work again in June as part of WPO’s True Blue program.
In 2014, Bernie was the woodwind specialist in the “HALCats” band on board the MS Rotterdam Cruise Ship. From 2010-2017, Bernie was part of the 11-piece Brass Band “Hot Potato Band”, playing venues and festivals across Australia. He is also involved in various projects as freelance performer, recording artist and musical director.
Outside of performing, Bernie has also been working as a composer, transcriber and arranger for numerous projects. Most recently, he has been on the arranging teams for Southern Stars, Broadway Reimagined and Epiphanies. He also writes and arranges for school ensembles.
Being passionate about education; Bernie holds tutoring and conducting positions in both public and private schools, as well as tutoring regularly on state and regional level music camps. He proudly holds the saxophone tutor position for The Arts Unit Wind Band program.
