Connor Bernhard is an in demand trumpeter in Chicago, Illinois where he plays every genre, from esoteric creative music, to simple and tight groove-based hits. 

He started playing at the age of 10 and was mainly self-taught until college when he studied trumpet with Art Davis and learned the roots and rhythm of blues and swing music from renowned jazz educator, Ronald Carter at Northern Illinois University where he was afforded the experience of touring with jazz greats such as Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Victor Lewis, Terell Stafford, and Steve Davis. Later, he would study with Victor Garcia at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts where he received his Bachelor's in Music Performance in 2017. 

While finishing his degree, Connor auditioned numerous times to be selected as one of the 5 recipients of 2017 Luminarts Jazz Fellowship.

 

 

In addition to his Quintet, Connor regularly performs and has recorded albums with groups such as Neil Carson's New Nostalgia, Sachmo, Zochen, and Zoofunkyou. 

He performs large events all over the country with The Evolution Orchestra many weekends of the year.

He is also a member of Kenthany Redmond's  Infrared Quintet and has performed with The New Lionel Hampton Band Feat. Jason Marsalis, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Eryn Allen Kane, The Adam Meckler Orchestra, Chris Madsen's Kings of the Lobby, The Right Now, and countless others.

Connor is an endorsing artist for Robinson's Remedies, more information can be found at https://www.robinsonsremedies.com

​

Connor released his debut album as a leader entitled "Altitude" in May 2020. It is available for purchase at https://connorbernhard.bandcamp.com/releases and for streaming wherever you consume music!