Franck Bernède, a versatile cellist and ethnomusicologist, has pursued a multifaceted music career. Born in Dijon, France, he embarked on his musical journey under the guidance of his father, conductor and violinist Jean-Claude Bernède. He later studied cello at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, under Alain Meunier and Reine Flachot, and at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, under Arto Noras. His academic journey culminated in studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in the Baroque music program led by Christophe Coin and William Christie.

Since 1985, Franck Bernède has performed in various countries across Europe, as well as in the United States, Japan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Taiwan, and others. He has collaborated with numerous Baroque ensembles and participated in recordings with groups such as Le Concert des Nations (Jordi Savall), l'ensemble Mosaiques (Christophe Coin), and Les Arts Florissants (William Christie). From 2004 to 2009, Franck Bernède served as an assistant professor at the School of Arts of National Taiwan University of Arts, teaching courses in Western early music, ethnomusicology, contemporary and Baroque cello.

In his research in ethnomusicology, Franck Bernède has dedicated over thirty years to studying the music of India and Nepal, focusing on the balladry of the Himalayan central region and the music of the Valmiki community in the Kathmandu Valley. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology and Ethnomusicology from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in France. Since 1993, Franck Bernède has been an associate member of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the French Society for Ethnomusicology. He has taught ethnomusicology at institutions in France (such as the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations, and the University of Provence) and abroad (Yale University, Heidelberg University, National Taiwan University of Arts). He is also the founder and director of the Sindhuli Research Center, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of music and dance in the Himalayan region.