The love of music, in all its forms, has always been a part of Bernard Ducharme. However, the passion for orchestral music quickly took hold. His first musical discoveries were the symphonies of Schubert and Mendelssohn as well as the violin concertos of Bruch and Tchaikovsky which he enjoyed conducting at the same time as the masters Karajan and Böhm. But it was his meeting with the great teacher that was Rolland Brunelle, csv, who definitively linked his destiny with orchestral music.

Originally from Joliette (Quebec, Canada), Bernard Ducharme began his musical studies in violin with Father Rolland Brunelle before continuing in viola with Mr. Romain Desroches. Initiated to orchestral conducting by Father Brunelle who did not hesitate to entrust him with the baton when he was only 15 years old, he also had the opportunity thereafter to work on orchestral conducting with Miklós Takács and Pinchas Zukerman. In 2001, he completed a bachelor's degree in music education at the University of Quebec in Montreal in Jutta Puchammer's viola class.

Active musician of the Orchester symphonique des jeunes de Joliette from 1980 to 1993, he continued his involvement in directing the Orchester de la Relève. With the OSJJ, he had the chance to perform across Quebec, Canada and on seven tours in Europe. The last tour in the summer of 2018 led him to lead an international youth orchestra during the Eurochestries Festival in Charente-Maritime.

After having taught the violin privately for more than 10 years in the Lanaudière region, Mr. Ducharme has now taught music at the Antoine-Manseau Academy since 2003. In addition to directing young musicians, Mr. Ducharme is general manager of orchestra and is secretary of the board of directors of the Rolland-Brunelle Foundation.