Bob Bernhardt continues to bring his easygoing style, infectious enthusiasm, and outstanding musicianship to the Louisville Orchestra, where he has been a vital presence for over 43 years. Now in his 29th season as Principal Pops Conductor, Bob’s leadership has been integral to the orchestra’s success, following previous roles as Assistant and Associate Conductor.

Beyond Louisville, Bob is in his 10th season as Pops Conductor with the Grand Rapids Symphony and serves as Music Director Emeritus of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, where he spent 19 seasons as Music Director. His distinguished career has also included key positions with the Tucson Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, and Amarillo Symphony.

A passionate opera conductor, Bob led productions with Kentucky Opera for 18 consecutive seasons and conducted numerous productions with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera.

He holds a Master’s degree with Honors from the University of Southern California and a BA-Fine Arts degree from Union College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was an Academic All-American athlete. Bob and his wife, Nora, live in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.