معرفی
Jean Bernard Cerin is an Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Vocal Program at Cornell University's Department of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences, and a core faculty member of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program. As a multifaceted artist-scholar, he produces and performs across film, recital, oratorio, opera, and folk music traditions, praised for his "burnished tone and focused phrasing" by the Chestnut Hill Local.
His educational background includes a Doctorate from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory in Boston, and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.
Cerin's research centers on cultural reclamation through early Haitian classical music, notably via his Lisette Project which investigates the oldest Haitian Creole song 'Lisette quitté la plaine'. His work bridges ethnomusicology and performance practice, incorporating Haitian kont (folktales) and collaborations with living composers to expand Western classical traditions. He actively explores intersections between Caribbean folk traditions and contemporary classical repertoire, particularly in vocal performance contexts.
His notable honors include:
- Philadelphia Musical Fund Society’s Career Advancement Award (2022)
- Gerard Souzay Prize for best performance of a French Mélodie (2018)
As Vocal Program Director at Cornell, Cerin mentors emerging artists in early music and cross-cultural performance practices. His projects receive institutional support for documentary production and national touring, including screenings at Princeton, Yale, and the American Musicological Society Conference. He has developed curriculum examining Caribbean folk albums and identity reclamation in the United States.
Cerin founded the Lisette Project (2021) for Haitian classical music research and Kuwento Mizik (2014), a musical duo specializing in Haitian folktale adaptations that won Best Performance of a Folk Song at the 2021 Canto Latino Cyber Challenge. Kuwento Mizik released their debut album 'Lua Nova' and performs at major venues including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with upcoming appearances at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
