Cat Bernardi

style: jazz, pop

Cat Bernardi's love of music began when she was just a young girl, listening to Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable" album while cruising on long car rides with her father. It was not long before other jazz icons like Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Holly Cole and Billy Holiday coerced her into singing jazz music herself.

Cat Bernardi studied Jazz Vocal Music at both York University and Humber College, where she had the opportunity to train under accomplished musicians such as Jane Fair, Maria Farinha, Sacha Williamson and Michael Donovan. Through Toronto Jazz Workshops, she has also had the opportunity to train with jazz legend Barry Harris.

It was not long before she began composing her own music, arranging her favourite standards and playing with several ensembles around the city including the Toronto Jazz Chorus, York University Jazz Choir, and her own group--the Cat Bernardi Quartet.

Cat Bernardi has performed at many of Toronto's most popular Jazz venues such as the Jazz Bistro, Chalker's Bistro and Gate 403, to name a few. She has also performed in many esteemed festivals such as the Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival, Scarborough Town Jazz Festival, Hamilton's Steel City Jazz Festival and Toronto's Canadian Music Week. She has performed in numerous musicals, working with acclaimed directors in roles such as Mae (Reefer Madness), Penelope Pennywise (Urinetown) and Ruth (Pirates of Penzance).

It is Cat's original music and distinct style that have had her invited onto Rogers TV twice to perform her original songs, and to be nominated as Best Music Artist in the prestigious 2016 MARTY awards.

Cat released her debut EP "Minor Ballad/Major Romance" to great acclaim in June 2014.