Bernardo Alviz : Associate Artist
Photo: Alviz, Bernardo (photo credit - Raphaël Neal)
Bernardo Alviz (b. 1987) is a composer and performer from Bogotá,
Colombia. A versatile double bassist, he has explored the
instrument's roles across orchestral music, electric performances
with metal distortion, and music for AI. After a wrist injury, he
developed a unique repertoire for left-hand-only performance,
which became the focus of his doctoral research. His work centers
on the physicality of performance.
Bernardo's orchestral career includes scholarships with the
Komische Oper Berlin (2013-2014) and Staatskapelle Berlin
(2014-2016). He has regularly performed with leading ensembles
such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Queensland Symphony
Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Netherlands
Philharmonic, and Konzerthausorchester Berlin. Collaborating with
world-renowned conductors and soloists, including Daniel
Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel, Martha Argerich, and
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, he has established himself as a
sought-after musician.
A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Bernardo has
performed at prestigious festivals, including the Lucerne
Festival (2017) with Heinz Holliger and Matthias Pintscher, the
Donaueschingen Musiktagen (2017) with Solistenensemble
Kaleidoskop, and the Infektio! Music Festival in Berlin (2016).
He has also served as principal bass for the Mahler Chamber
Orchestra at the Malmö International Chamber Music Festival
(2016).
Bernardo is deeply committed to education, collaborating with
leading institutions in Australia, including Brisbane Girls
Grammar School, Somerville House, St. Margaret's Anglican School,
St. Peter's Lutheran College, and The University of Queensland.
He has worked with Queensland Youth Orchestras, Gold Coast Youth
Orchestras, and the Australian Youth Orchestra, inspiring the
next generation of musicians.
He holds a Bachelor's degree from Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá
and furthered his studies at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in
Berlin, where he trained under renowned bassists such as Janne
Saksala and Klaus Stoll. He earned a PhD in composition and
performance from the University of Queensland.
Bernardo performs on a Benedict Puglisi double bass (2011)
crafted in Melbourne and a Yamaha SLB300 electric bass.
Biography provided by the composer — current to January 2025