BIOGRAPHY
Bernadette is a mind-body music therapist with a private practice in holistic health and complementary therapies. As a certified Reiki Therapist and Brennan Healing Science Practitioner, Bernadette also creates energy healing music for improved health and wellness. As a musician for over 30 years, Bernadette combines her unique blend of energy healing techniques through her World and Ambient music. Her 4th year thesis paper at BBSH was on Music for Healing. As a result of this research paper, Bernadette released her first cd of healing music, Radiance in 2005, and her latest healing music CD, Light Embracing was released in 2012. She will soon release a Reiki Healing CD, and is currently writing and recording a CD of chant based World Rhythm music she has written to ancient Sanskrit prayers.
Bernadette began studying classical piano when she was 7, later began vocal training when she was 13. Bernadette was selected as a voice performance major at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She studied with Marko Rothmuller, Roy Samuelson, and Margaret Harshaw. While in college in addition to her voice and piano studies, she studied composition, music literature, jazz improvisation, and music theory. As a singer and composer, Bernadette's recordings include Radiance, Healing Music for Mind, Body and Spirit (independently produced by Bernadette Yao, © 2005 Yao Music), Light Embracing. Music Meditations (self produced © 2012 Yao Music) and Do You Love You? With the Inclusive Rhythm Foundation (Courtyard Music, 2008), Come On and Zoom (A&M Records, 1976), and numerous recordings with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (1985-95).
Bernadette has performed live around the world in many genres of music, classical, folk, pop, jazz and world music. She has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in NY , Japan, Hong Kong, Symphony Hall and Tanglewood in MA with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. As a singer/songwriter and healing musician Bernadette has performed at Club Passim, Cambridge, MA, Acton Jazz Cafe, Acton, MA, MIddle East, Cambridge MA, yoga studios and wellness workshops in Florida, Spain, New England, and during live online webcasts.
She continued her music studies after graduating from IU with a bachelors degree with a minor in music and major in telecommunications (video and audio production) and continued her audio engineering and producing certification courses at Berklee Music from 2005 - 2008. In 2005, Bernadette graduated from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, an intensive 4 year college, and she received her certification in Reiki I (2003) and Reiki II (2004).
Bernadette has worked in the TV broadcast industry most of her life. She is a TV Host/talent/producer, a print model, and is a voice over performer/producer. She had her start back in 1972 as a regular cast member of ZOOM (Emmy Award winning PBS kids show). In the late 1980‘s, Bernadette hosted and produced Asian Focus (CBS affiliate/WNEV now WHDH) a target audience, current affairs talk show. She was a contributing reporter for Boston Common (CBS affiliate/WNEV now WHDH), and she co-hosted, co-associate produced Violence Against Asians CBS affiliate/WNEV now WHDH). Since the 1980’s to the present, Bernadette has hosted PBS TV pledge drives and Auctions for local and national fundraising efforts, she has worked as a print model represented by Maggie, Inc. modeling agency in Boston. In 2008 and 2009, Bernadette joined PBS/WGBH as a location associate producer on the Emmy Award winning children’s program, FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman. She enjoyed working with the children/talent from behind the camera as one of the crew! Bernadette also worked “behind the scenes” for programs and PBS specials such as “Holiday Entertaining With Martha Stewart” (production assistant) and FRONTLINE (PBS, Confidential Secretary for the Executive Producer). Bernadette is a member of AFTRA and ASCAP.
Bernadette enjoys long walks in nature, yoga, tai chi, meditation, long bike rides on her stationary bike while reading, spending time with her family, her dog, and friends, and cooking healthy meals. Bernadette lives outside of Boston, MA USA with her husband, their two daughters, and their dog.
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