An astute and technically brilliant composer and performer, Bernadette Zeilinger, holds degrees in Education (University of Vienna), Music/ Recorder (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna) and in Specialized Music Performance (University of Applied Sciences and Arts North-western Switzerland/ Music in Basel), where she studied with Alfred Zimmerlin and Fred Frith. In 2009 and in 2010 she was nominated for an Erasmus residency at Zurich University of the Arts where she specialised in the notation of contemporary playing techniques. She received the highest possible grade for her Master's recital. In 2009 she won an award from the Austrian International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM), in recognition of her radio feature about contemporary music, and in 2019 the award of the city of Vienna "Förderungspreis der Stadt Wien in der Sparte Musik (Komposition)". She has also been awarded several grants and has given concerts and master classes in Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Ried im Innkreis, Graz), Germany (Bremen, Freiburg, Munich), Switzerland (Zurich, Basel, Biel, Bern), Norway (Trondheim, Oslo), Czech Republic (Prague), Hungary (Budapest, Debrecen), France (Paris, Bordeaux, Bormes de Mimosas), Great Britain (London, Cheltenham), Italy (Rome, Brescia, Turin, Genoa, Bogliasco, Monteggiori, Pisa, Latina, Anzio, Nettuno, San Giorgio del Sannio, Fasano, Noci - Puglia, Palazzolo - Sicily), Iceland (Reykjavik, Videy, Gullfoss, Geysir), USA (New York City, Hudson - New York, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland - Ohio, Grand Rapids - Michigan, Lafayette - Indiana, Iowa City, Omaha - Nebraska, Denver - Colorado, Wanship/ Tollgate Canyon - Utah, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, Oakland, Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, San Diego - California), Mexico (Tijuana, Mexico City), Canada (Montreal), Hong Kong, China (Shanghai, Beijing), Japan (Tokyo, Hakodate), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Box Hill, Lake Eildon, Yea, Newham - Victoria, Hobart - Tasmania), New Zealand (Christchurch, Sefton, Wellington, Auckland), South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town) ...
She has performed at Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Otto-Wagner-Kirche, Ruprechtskirche, Schloss Schoenbrunn, Wiener Konzerthaus, ORF RadioKulturhaus, Museumsquartier, Leopold Museum, Porgy & Bess and Japanese Embassy in Vienna, Belvedere Nettuno, Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Villa Croce in Genoa, Museo Contemporaneo in Latina, Hong Kong Arts Centre, MONA Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania, Testing Grounds in Melbourne, The Arts Centre of Christchurch, No Nation Gallery in Chicago, University of Vienna, Zurich University of the Arts, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland in Basel, University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham, Northern Arizona University, San Diego University, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne, University Box Hill Institute, South African College of Music, University of Cape Town, UJ Arts Centre Theatre at University of Johannesburg, and many other venues. She performs solo as well as in groups like Muze. She has developed her own musical language but is very flexible in her approach.
With Diego Mune, they initiated La Musa, Go.ETe _ Flute Festival, Ensemble ORCHIDEE and the Festival CIMT.
They also created original music for the film "Ainhoa, yo no soy esa", which was presented and received awards at several festivals: Malaga Film Festival (two awards on its premiere: the Public Prize and the "Biznaga de Plata", the first prize to the best documentary), DocumentaMadrid 2018 (two awards: Special Mention of the National Film Jury and the Film Institute Award for the Best Sound), D'A Film Festival Barcelona ...
In cooperation with Forum Zeitgeschichte & the University of Vienna, they curate the concert series La Musa at the Campus of the University.
"Bernadette Zeilinger can hold her own with anyone. She's an astute and technically brilliant musician who excels on an instrument that's rare in the field of improvisation, and her creativity, dedication and discipline are inspiring." (Fred Frith)