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| Bernard Z. Goldberg |
Bernard Z. Goldberg,
former principal flutist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, is recognized as
one of the world’s leading performers and teachers of the instrument. Among
others, he has studied with George Barrere, Marcel Moyse, and Pablo Casals.
Graduating from Julliard at the age of 19, he joined the Cleveland Orchestra, and
became their principal flutist at age of 21. Two years later he accepted the
position of principal flute with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and New York
Lincoln Center “Mostly Mozart Festival” chose him as principal flute. Throughout his tenure, he played all three
Mozart concertos in Avery Fisher Hall. He has performed under conductors Fritz
Reiner, William Steinberg, Pablo Casals, Andre Previn, Lorin Maazel, Enrich
Leinsdorf, Victor de Sabata, Paul Paray and many more.
Mr. Goldberg has toured extensively as a recitalist and with
the Musica Viva Trio. He has given numerous recitals in New York, most notably
at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Arts. Among his recordings are
releases with the Musica Viva Trio, the Audubon Quartet, the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra and the Casals Festival. Mr Goldberg is a member of the
faculty of the Brooklyn College Conservatory in New York and has served as
guest conductor for many orchestras around the world.
Goldberg’s determination and hard work propelled him to a
highly successful teaching and performing career. His teaching techniques were
acquired through experience and by observing great artists making music. He
inspires many students through his playing, teaching philosophies and
dedication.
Goldberg often remembers a quote from a conversation with
Jean-Pierre Rampal:
“...if you want to have an audience
you have to love the audience and you have to give with your full heart.” Goldberg has added his own addition to this
sentiment “There is no way that you can have a successful career or especially
successful life if you hold back. When I give a master class I don’t know any
of the students, but I try to give them all that I know I have. I’m interested
in the students who try to learn to make music.”
Dr. Nora Lee Garcia, Associate Professor at the University
of Central Florida, is a former student of Mr. Goldberg and comments about his
teaching:
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| Dr. Nora Lee Garcia |
“I was 12 years old when I heard
Mr. Goldberg for the first time. It was at The Casals Festival in Puerto Rico,
and he was playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. This was an amazing
experience to watch and listen to him perform. He was able to project across
the orchestra or blend perfectly with any instrument. When I was 19, I went to study with him at
Brooklyn College for my Master’s degree. I remember the first lesson; I wanted
to impress him so badly. I played the first movement of the Ibert
Concerto. When I finished he looked at
me and said ‘Do you know that playing the flute is easy?’ We looked at each other and laughed. From that lesson on, I learned not only music
making but how music is built and the traditions that are behind it.
One of my favorite stories from my
lessons with Goldberg (that I always share with my students) involved an Altes
Etude he has asked me to learn. Mr.
Goldberg studied the Altes Etudes with George Barrere, who in turn studied with
Altes himself. As a result, Mr. Goldberg
knows Altes Etudes inside and out (in fact, he will play the second flute part
by memory with his students). One week I was studying very hard for my Masters
degree exams and didn’t devote enough time to truly learn the etude. So, I
planned to leave my book at home and try to get through the lesson without
playing it. My lesson started as usual
with Taffanel and Gaubert scales and thirds. Then Mr. Goldberg smiled and asked
for the Altes Etude. I went to my bag
and began looking through it – with concern on my face. I turned and said to him “I forgot my book at
home -- I was practicing and forgot to bring it.” Mr. Goldberg looked at me
very sternly and said ‘Play it by memory.’
I remember looking at him with shock on my face, and nervously, I
started playing the first 4 measures.
All of a sudden, Altes became a new composition. I stopped, and he said
to me ‘Next time when you practice so much – memorize it!’ I learned my lesson and always remember that
experience with a smile.
I was always impressed by how he
coped with such a busy schedule traveling from Pittsburgh to New York every
week. During my three years of study
with him he never cancelled a lesson and never was late. He was always full of
energy and gave 100% of his attention to all students in their lessons.
Mr. Goldberg’s expertise in
performing the music of J.S. Bach is very unique. He studied with Diran
Alexanian one of the world’s foremost experts on Bach’s music. During my lessons, I learned many aspects of
phrasing and tone color possibilities.
He was able to teach music in even
the simplest of melodies. I watched him
teach a master class on the 24 Little Melodies book and by the end everybody in
the room was in love with the book. The
younger generations of flutists don’t necessarily know these types of books and
Goldberg and others are doing a great job of bringing these treasures to life.
Goldberg studied at the Marlboro
Music Festival with Marcel Moyse, and has many stories to share. In one master class, Goldberg played one of
the 24 Little Melodies for Moyse and the class.
When he was finished, Moyse asked the class, ‘Do you know the composer
of this piece?’ And many people replied with many different answers. The correct answer was, Moyse did! Moyse proceeded to explain to the class that
the flute player needs to learn how to play a simple melody and as many
variations as possible. This stayed with
Goldberg through all of his performing and teaching – and is still with him
today.”
Bernard Z. Goldberg is currently on faculty at the Brooklyn
College Conservatory and maintains a private studio as well as an active masterclass
schedule. Since his retirement from the
Pittsburgh Symphony in 1993, he has served as flute coach for the Asian Youth
Orchestra and spent eight years as Conductor and Musical Director of the
McKeesport PA Symphony (1993-2001). He
loves to read and always is learning new music and scores.
