Barbara Berner conducts the advanced touring ensemble, Concert Choir, co-directs Choristers, and oversees all aspects of the children's choirs program as Artistic Director. Under Mrs. Berner's direction Concert Choir has performed at Carnegie Hall, the national American Choral Directors Association convention in Los Angeles, and at the White House.

Mrs. Berner has prepared Concert Choir for numerous performances with the Saint Louis Symphony under conductors David Robertson, Ludwig Wicki, Peter Oundjian, Hans Vonk, Eri Klas, David Amado, David Zinman, Ward Stare, Scott Parkman, Robert Kapilow, and John McDaniel. Mrs. Berner has conducted the young singers in performances with the Bach Society of Saint Louis, the St. Louis Holiday Brass Ensemble, and the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, plus featured broadcasts on KFUO Classic 99, and on international tours to Australia, England and Wales, Austria and the Czech Republic, Scotland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

In June 2010, the young artists of The St. Louis Children's Choirs' Concert Choir appeared at Carnegie Hall and performed as one of two featured choirs in the Ensemble Debut Series of the National Children's Festival Chorus. The ensemble performs regularly with the St. Louis Symphony and will perform Shore's The Lord of the Rings Symphony and Orff's Carmina Burana this season.

Barbara Berner joined the artistic staff of The St. Louis Children's Choirs in 1996 and was appointed Artistic Director in 1999. She serves as a clinician for Kodaly workshops and has conducted state honor choirs in Kentucky and New Mexico. As an accompanist, music teacher, and choral conductor, Mrs. Berner has had the opportunity to work with young singers from kindergarten through high school in the inner-city schools of Detroit and Boston; on military bases in Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany and West Point, New York; and in the culturally diverse schools of the Washington D.C. area.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Principia College and a Master of Music degree from Ithaca College. Barbara Berner was awarded an Artist/Teacher and Master Teacher Diploma from the Institute for Choral Teacher Education, where she studied conducting with Dr. Doreen Rao, and holds an Advanced Certificate from the Kodaly Pedagogical Institute in Kecskemet, Hungary.

Groups Directed

St. Louis Children's Choir