Bio

Hailed as “innovative.. unique... an exceptionally gifted composer” by the Indie Film Music Contest, with a style compared to Stravinsky, Messiaen, and Arvo Pärt, Kiefer Bernard (b. 2007) received the top prizes for classical composition in the 2022 National Association for Music Educators student competition, the 2024 National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Composer (SJ), and the 2023 New Jersey PTA Reflections competitions.  He has studied theory, ear training, music production, and electroacoustical composition at The Juilliard School, Tanglewood Institute, and Interlochen.  He is a current composition major at Mannes School of Music Preparatory Academy and studies composition privately with Gity Razaz and Max Grafe.  He lives in Montclair, New Jersey.