After studying violin in Hanover (Karl Heinrich v. Stumpff) and Detmold (Max Strub), Bernau worked as a concertmaster in Bonn, Flensburg, Nuremberg and Regensburg.
As a chamber musician, Bernau cultivates a repertoire of different instrumentations - in addition to his involvement with the string quartet and piano trio literature.
His collaboration in the Pihtipudas Kvintetti (Piano Quintet), which he co-founded, is worthy of mention and is also documented on several CDs (including several first recordings).
He has made radio productions in various European countries and recordings on disks and CDs, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician.
[1] In 2004, Bernau was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his extraordinary programmes, his commitment to contemporary works by German and especially Berlin composers, the presentation of foreign contemporary composers in Germany, as well as for his diverse music educational work.