Béatrice Berne

After obtaining her conservatory diplomas, Béatrice Berne was awarded prizes at several international competitions, establishing herself among the leading performers of her instrument in Guérande, Vierzon, Seville-Dos Hermanas and Caltanissetta. She holds a degree in Musicology from Lyon 2 University and directed a music school for eight years. Since 1996, she has been a tenured professor (Certificat d’Aptitude) of clarinet at the Conservatoire National de Région de Clermont Métropole.

She created the concept of “Clarinet Rendezvous,” a multifaceted exploration of the clarinet and its many dimensions. In 2026, the tenth edition will take place in Clermont in November. Béatrice Berne is regularly invited by conservatories and the French Ministry of Culture to serve on educational and professional examination panels, including those of the CNSMDP, Certificat d’Aptitude examinations and higher education institutions.

Alongside her work as a performer and teacher, she has developed an extensive career as a composer. Building on her advanced theoretical studies, she writes for a wide range of ensembles and for theatre, film and other performing arts projects. Her works have been published by Accordinova and Da Camera, among others. She is also the composer of the opera Déméter.

As a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed with numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Orchestre national d’Auvergne, the Opéra de Lyon and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. She has collaborated with many distinguished musicians and ensembles, including J.-M. Bertelli, S. Collot, L. Martin, J. Guigue, W. Latchoumia, P.-A. Volondat and the Elmire Quartet. Passionate about contemporary music, she has premiered and performed works by composers including I. Jevtic, P. Eötvös, D. Meier, G. Raynal, A. Emler and J.-M. Jouve. These collaborations notably led to the CD “Dédicaces à Béatrice Berne,” released by Polymnie.

A multi-instrumentalist performer, she explores the different members of the clarinet family, including historical instruments. Her collection of chalumeaux and historical clarinets enables her to create original concert programmes and performances, presented at numerous festivals including Loire-Forez, Musiques Démesurées, Rencontres Contemporaines and the Festival de Bourgogne du Sud.

She also develops original concert programmes combining traditional and classical music, bringing the clarinet together with instruments such as accordion, doumra, fortepiano, harpsichord and guitar. Her projects include À Tous Vents, Slavarmenia and Duo des Balkans. Béatrice Berne is the artistic director of Kaïros Ensemble, which commissions, records and produces multidisciplinary creations, often in collaboration with stage director and writer
Martine Chifflot.

Together, they have developed daring musical theatre projects such as
Animalesques, Lovecraft, mon amour, as well as the opera Déméter, composed by Béatrice Berne and co-produced with the Spirito choir and Kaïros. Her discography currently includes 15 albums, released by various labels including Polymnie, Ligia, Clarinet Classics and Arcane17, and praised by critics. Her recordings include French Clarinet Exports, for two clarinets, and most recently Nino Rota, c’est ça!

Through her work as a concert performer, teacher, composer and artistic director, Béatrice Berne champions an open and creative vision of the clarinet, bringing together different periods, instruments, musical aesthetics and artistic disciplines.