Weston M-A Bernath
Music Theorist - Composer - Arranger - Audiophile - Teacher
Biography
Weston M-A Bernath received his Master of Arts in Music from Western Michigan University in 2020 where he studied music theory and earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Education at Grand Valley State University in 2018 where he studied double bass performance and composition. His music theory interests include Twenty-First Century music theory analysis methods, creating new a collegiate music theory curriculum inclusive of a wider variety of musical styles and heavy metal music analysis. His compositions often involve low-ranged instruments and low-frequency sounds, NES 8-bit chiptunes, metal band-art music fusion and compositions incorporating modern techniques intended for performance by middle and high school ensembles.
As a music theorist, composer, audiophile and teacher, Bernath seeks to explore his extensive interests spanning a number of disciplines beyond those of the sonic arts. These explorations include geology, agriculture, environment protection, physics, engineering, psychology, sociology and history. His primary life objective is to encourage all to expand their thinking and diversify their perspectives.
As an active musician, Bernath cofounded the contemporary quintet, The Power of Friendship, in early 2024 with area like-minded musicians. The ensemble oscillates between a standard brass quintet to a mixed ensemble substituting corresponding appropriate roles with double bass, flute, piccolo trumpet, bass trombone or electronics. The group performs a diverse selection of repertoire consisting of standard marches, arrangements of Common Practice Period selections, idiosyncratic brass quintet music with modifications, seasonal tunes, popular music songs and original compositions. Likewise, Bernath joined the Beer City Winds wind symphony from its inaugural season in the Summer of 2022 and continues to perform with them each summer as well as contribute original compositions (Graceful Horrors: Elegant Atrocities, summer 2022 and Graceful Horrors II: Grotesque Lamentations, summer 2023).
As of recent, Weston M-A Bernath resides near the Northern Kent County community of Cedar Springs where he continues to arrange music for a variety of events and ensembles, performs at various public events, maintains a private studio, engages in side music projects and sustains employment as a freelance musician/audio technician and a 2nd Shift Production Supervisor at Lear Corporation.