Prof looks at his life for 'last lecture'

For Barry Bernhardt, conducting a band is easy. Writing a lecture on what gives meaning to his life is hard.

The director of bands at Southeast Missouri State University will deliver the "last lecture" at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium.

The lecture series, sponsored by Catholic Campus Ministry, asks speakers -- mostly faculty members -- to talk for 30 minutes about what gives meaning to their lives.

Bernhardt's talk will be the seventh "Last Lecture" since Catholic Campus Ministry started the series in October 2002.

"It's probably one of the scariest things I've prepared for in my whole life," he said.

While scary, preparing for the lecture has made him assess his life, said Bernhardt, who was still writing the lecture late last week.

"It does open your eyes and help you evaluate who you are," he said.

Bernhardt, 47, said he often gets wrapped up in conducting and teaching his music students.

At the same time God and family give meaning to his life.

"My faith gets top billing," he said. "My relationship with God is first and my family is a close second, and my students and profession are third."

But Bernhardt admits that much of his time is spent teaching music and he feels a close bond to his students.

"I consider a lot of these kids as part of our family," he said.

Bernhardt loves to conduct. He constantly urges his students to play the music with feeling.

"One of the hardest things I do as a conductor is to get passion out of young musicians," he said.

"For me, it is all about the music," said Bernhardt, who grew up in Macon, Mo., and dreamed of playing trumpet in the Count Basie Band.

That didn't happen, but his love of music has played out in a 24-year career as a music educator. He's taught at Southeast since 1990.

His students, he said, learn life skills that involve more than just making music. They learn about responsibility and working together.

Good musicians, he said, also are "active listeners" who are aware of what happens around them. That's a good skill for everyone, not just music majors, Bernhardt said.

A member of First Christian Church in Cape Girardeau, Bernhardt's not shy about his faith. "I say, 'Go to church. Don't be afraid to raise your children in a Christian environment.'"

He said he tries to be a good husband to his wife, Laurie, and a good father to his children, Jonathan, 18, and Anne-Marie, 16.

Being a father, husband and university faculty member is a balancing act, he said. But the real harmony in his life comes from music. It's a constant at home, church and in his university classes.

"Music is a common thread," he said.

For Bernhardt, the thread makes up a rich tapestry that keeps him smiling.

"I really am enjoying it," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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