Take extraordinary musicianship, a formidable technique, passionate performances, a delightfully cheeky sense of humour combined with a classical approach to popular music and you have Australia’s Premier Pops Pianist, BERNARD WALZ. More than merely a brilliant musician, Bernard is a truly dynamic and engaging Entertainer. The combination of these qualities set the talents of Bernard Walz above and beyond the ordinary!
He is the three-time winner (1996, 1997, 1998) of the Australian Entertainment “MO” Award for Variety Instrumental Performer of the Year, for Excellence in Live Performance, and a Number One charting recording artist in Australia (1994) with his debut album, “Piano Passion”. His music has taken him around the world - from performances at the famed Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House in his home town, Sydney, Australia (and the principal concert halls and performance venues of Australia including Sydney Entertainment Centre, Melbourne Concert Hall, Adelaide Festival Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre), to Royal Festival Hall in London with the BBC Concert Orchestra and around the world in cabaret, concert and recital performances. He has also been announced as Crystal Cruises’ “Instrumentalist of the Year” (2002, 2003, 2005 & 2007), “Entertainer Of The Year” (2004 and 2006) and most recently as “Variety Artist Of The Year” (2008). Six-star Crystal Cruises is the winner of the “World’s Best Luxury Cruise Line” award from “Conde Nast” and “Travel and Leisure” magazines over 20 times.
Bernard has toured Australia and internationally with the likes of Michael Crawford (the “Phantom Of The Opera”) and the late Larry Adler. Bernard has also performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Concert Orchestra, the Sydney International Orchestra, The Hunter and Penrith Symphony orchestras, the Adelaide Art Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Pops Orchestra and the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra.
Bernard’s music is truly inspiring. His spirited performances never fail to move his audiences. From the music of the Great Masters to the best of Broadway, Ragtime, Boogie and Film Music, his passionately intense interpretations of this great music garner rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. With orchestra or performing solo Bernard’s music is symphonic in scope and colour. His interpretations of the music of George Gershwin have gained him enthusiastic response and prompted the late harmonica legend, Larry Adler, to comment “…I only wish George Gershwin were alive to hear Bernard play…he would have loved it…”.