[3] Bernard began singing in public at a young age initially as a student at Fisk Elementary School and at the Fourth Baptist Church in New Orleans.
Hogan arranged for Bernard to audition for Sister Mary Elise Sisson, SBS, who was the chairperson of the Department of Music at Xavier University in New Orleans.
[5][4] Following her graduation from Xavier University, Bernard studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, earning a Masters of Arts degree in 1958.
[6][4] Intending to become a professional opera singer in Italy, en route there she first stopped in Salzburg, Austria, to attend an operatic workshop.
At the workshop, Bernard became acquainted with opera director and composer Hermann Reutter who suggested she enroll at the Stuttgart Music Academy.
[6][4] Bernard made her professional operatic debut by performing the lead role in Aida in Vienna on March 21, 1962, with the Berlin Opera.
During her professional career, Bernard also performed at the Kennedy Center, at Carnegie Hall, and at Vatican City in the presence of Pope Paul VI.
[2]: 241 Xavier University awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music to Bernard in 1976, co-awarded with her mentor Sister Mary Elise Sisson.