Italian born, Alfredo Bernardini studied early music in the Netherlands, where he graduated in 1987. He has since performed all over the world as a member of ensembles, such as Hesperion XX, Le Concert des Nations, La Petite Bande, The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, The English Concert, Bach Collegium Japan and others. He has played in more than 100 recordings. He is a founding member of the ensemble Zefiro, which has been awarded important international prizes.

He has been a guest director of baroque orchestras all over Europe, in Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Cuba, Israel, and with the European Union Baroque Orchestra. After teaching at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and at the ESMUC of Barcelona, he is currently a professor at the Mozarteum University, Salzburg.