A pupil of Betty van Wyk, he became  very skilled on the cello by the age of 11, and has a Grade one ABRSM Cello  qualification. (dist).  from his earlier years on the instrument. In the NEA and  Johannesburg Festival  he won numerous diplomas for his cello playing prior to a shoulder injury  which brought this chapter of his musical life to a close.

Bernard is in training to sing opera (bass voice) with Linelle Wimbles, holds Trinity College and ABRSM  Grade 5 singing certificates, and won the Eugenie Chopin trophy for most promising male singer at the Johannesburg music festival in 2013. 

He is comfortable singing in English, Afrikaans, German and Italian and has a great sense of humour. In 2015 he received a Category Winner award  from the NEA for his vocal recital program.  Bernard  also won the Roedean Music Competition (Vocal section) in June 2015. 

In May 2015 he played the role of Tybalt at the Civic Theatre in his school production of Romeo and Juliet, translated by Andre P Brink.