Bernard began playing piano by ear at the age of 5.  His ealy training included study with Hilda Reimer, followed by instruction by pianists Peter Katin, Jane Coop, Robin Wood, John Paul Bracey, and composers Peter-Paul Koprowski and Gerhard Wuensch.

Performance highlights include recitals at the Vancouver Art Gallery where he played the Preludes of Messiaen, Visions Fugitives by Prokofiev, Tippett Sonata No. 2 and a program of Milhaud.  In 1991 he was honored to work with Jean Coulthard in preparation for the world premiere of Image Terrestre. In the mid 1990s, Mr Duerksen learned the 32 sonatas of Beethoven, performing many of them, as well as piano concertos 3 and 4.  His six-year collaboration with baritone Glen Harder culminated with an invitation to perform Schubert’s Die Winterreise at the 1993 International Conference and Festival at University of Victoria. In 2001 he co-founded, directed and performed in “Simply Piano Recitals”, a series of eight piano recitals with Martin Humphreys.  In 2003 and 2004 he played piano duos with Alan Crane at the Langley Community Music School, where their programs included the Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances, Brahms Haydn Variations, and Lutoslawski Paganini Variations.  Mr Duerksen  is also an accomplished organist.

He has appeared in concert with many leading musicians at UBC, University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University.  Among these artists are Ian Hampton, cello, Arthur Polson, violin, Brenda Fedoruk, flute, Gene Ramsbottom, clarinet, Jesse Read, bassoon, Steve Denroch, French horn and Chris Robertson, trumpet.

Mr. Duerksen has been actively teaching and adjudicating throughout his career.  After four years at Medicine Hat College, he returned to BC and is currently teaching at the Langley Community Music School – his 18th year – and at his private studio in Vancouver.

Mr. Duerksen holds a Master of Music degree from UBC, and currently resides in Vancouver.