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Joshua Bell

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For other people named Joshua Bell, seeJoshua Bell (disambiguation).

Joshua Bell
Bell in 2010
Bell in 2010
Background information
Born(1967-12-09)December 9, 1967(age 56)
Bloomington, Indiana,US
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Violinist, conductor
Years active1980s–present
Websitejoshuabell.com

Joshua David Bell(born December 9, 1967) is an Americanviolinistand conductor. He is currently music director of theAcademy of St Martin in the Fields.

Early life and education[edit]

Bell was born inBloomington, Indiana,to Shirley Bell, a therapist, andAlan P. Bell,[1]a psychologist and professor atIndiana University(IU), and formerKinsey researcher.[2][3]His father is of Scottish descent and his mother isJewish(her father was born inMandatory Palestineand her mother was fromMinsk).[4]

Bell began playing the violin at age four after his mother discovered that he had taken rubber bands from around the house and stretched them across the handles of his nine dresser drawers to pluck out music he had heard her play on the piano. His parents got a scaled-to-size violin for him when he was five and started giving him lessons. Bell took to the instrument but had an otherwise normal Indiana childhood, playing video games and excelling at sports, especially tennis and bowling. He placed in a national tennis tournament at age ten.[5]

Bell's first violin teacher was Donna Bricht, widow ofIndiana Universitymusic faculty memberWalter Bricht.[6]His second was Mimi Zweig, and his third the violinist and pedagogJosef Gingold,who accepted Bell as a student after his parents assured him that they were not interested in pushing their son to be a star but simply wanted him to have the best teacher for his abilities. By age 12, Bell was serious about the instrument, thanks in large part to Gingold's inspiration.[citation needed]

At age 14, Bell appeared as a soloist with thePhiladelphia OrchestraunderRiccardo Muti.He studied violin at the Indiana UniversityJacobs School of Musicand graduated fromBloomington High School Northin 1984.[7]In 1989 Bell received an Artist Diploma in violin performance from Indiana University. IU also honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Service Award two years after his graduation. He has been named an "Indiana Living Legend"[8]and received the Indiana Governor's Arts Award.[9]

Career[edit]

Piano Trio No. 1, 4. Finale(8:08)
Bell,Awadagin Pratt,andAlisa WeilersteinperformMendelssohn'sPiano Trio No. 1at theWhite HouseEvening of Classical Music on November 4, 2009.
Piano Trio No. 1, Finale
Audio only version
Problems playing these files? Seemedia help.

Bell made hisCarnegie Halldebut in 1985, at age 17, with theSt. Louis Symphony.In 1990, at age 22, he went on theAmerican Russian Young Artists Orchestra's first tour of Russia.[10][11]He has since performed with many of the world's major orchestras and conductors. As well as the standard concerto repertoire, he has performed new works.Nicholas Maw's violin concerto is dedicated to Bell, who premiered it in 1993 and won aGrammy Awardfor his recording. He performed the solo part onJohn Corigliano's Oscar-winning soundtrack to the filmThe Red Violinand was featured inLadies in Lavender.He also appeared in the movieMusic of the Heart,with other violinists.[citation needed]

Bell's instrument is theGibson ex Huberman,aStradivariusmade in 1713 during what is known asStradivari's "Golden Era". The violin was stolen twice from its previous owner,Bronisław Huberman;the final time, the thief confessed to the act on his deathbed.[12]Bell had played the violin; its owner at the time, violinistNorbert Brainin,jokingly told him that it could be his for $4 million. On August 3, 2001, Bell was in London to perform atThe Proms;before the concert he was approached byJ & A Beare.He learned that the violin was in London and about to be sold to a German industrialist to become part of a collection. Bell played the violin at the Proms that same evening.[13]He later sold his previous violin, theTom Taylor Stradivarius,[14]for a little more than $2 million and bought the Gibson ex Huberman for a little under the $4 million asking price. The 2013 documentaryThe Return of the Violintells the story of the instrument's theft, return, and subsequent acquisition by Bell.[15]Bell's first recording with the Gibson ex Huberman wasRomance of the ViolinforSony Classical Recordsin 2003.

Bell served as artistic partner for theSaint Paul Chamber Orchestrafrom 2004 until 2007, and as a visiting professor at theRoyal Academy of Musicin London. He also serves on the artists' selection committee for theKennedy Center Honorsand is an adjunct associate professor at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology.[16]

Bell won theAvery Fisher Prizeon April 10, 2007, atLincoln Centerin New York City. The prize is given once every few years to classical instrumentalists for outstanding achievement.[17]On May 3, 2007, Indiana University'sJacobs School of Musicannounced that Bell had joined the faculty as a senior lecturer.[18]

In 2008, Bell received the Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievement.[19][20][21]

Bell collaborated withHans Zimmerby providing violin solos for thesoundtrackof the 2009 filmAngels & Demons,based onDan Brown's 2000novel of the same name.[citation needed]

In May 2011, theAcademy of St Martin in the Fields(ASMF) named Bell its music director.[22][23]He has recorded commercially with the ASMF for the Sony Classical label.[24]In July 2017, the ASMF announced a three-year extension of his contract, through 2020.[25]Bell and the orchestra won the2017 Helpmann Awardfor Best Individual Classical Music Performance.[26]In April 2024, the ASMF announced an additional extension of Bell's contract as its music director through August 2028.[27]

In 2013, Bell accompaniedScarlett Johanssonin the song "Before My Time". Written byJ. Ralphfor the documentaryChasing Ice,it received a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Original Song.[28]

Bell played himself in three episodes ofMozart in the Junglein 2014, 2015, and 2016.[29]In 2016, he had a cameo in the penultimate musical episode ofRoyal Pains.[30]He also appeared as himself in episode 8 ( "Quacktice Makes Perfect" ) of the 2017Netflixoriginal seriesJulie's Greenroom.[citation needed]

Washington Postexperiment[edit]

In an experiment initiated byThe Washington PostcolumnistGene Weingarten,Bell donned a baseball cap and played as an incognitobuskerat the Metro subway stationL'Enfant Plazain Washington, D.C., on January 12, 2007. The experiment was videotaped on hidden camera; of the 1,097 people who passed by, seven stopped to listen to him, and one recognized him. For his nearly 45-minute performance, Bell collected $32.17 from 27 passersby (excluding $20 from the one who recognized him).[12]Three days earlier, he earned considerably more playing the same repertoire at a concert. Weingarten won the 2008Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writingfor his article on the experiment.[31][32]The Washington Postposted the video on YouTube[33]and a feature-length documentary,Find Your Way: A Busker's Documentary,chronicled Bell's experience.[34]A somewhat inaccurate retelling of the story went viral.[35]

Personal life[edit]

Bell has three sisters.[1]He and his former partner, Lisa Matricardi, have three sons: Josef (born 2007),[36][37]and twins Benjamin and Samuel (born 2010).[38][39]On October 5, 2019, Bell married opera singerLarisa Martinezat their home inMount Kisco, New York.[40][41]They also live in theGramercy Parkneighborhood ofManhattan.[42]

Selected discography[edit]

Year Album BillboardClassical Billboard200
1988 Bruch&MendelssohnViolin Concertos,London Records — —
1989 Fauré/Debussy/FranckViolin SonataswithJean-Yves Thibaudet,Decca Records — —
1989 Saint-Saëns:Violin concerto N°3,Lalo,Symphonie Espagnole
1990 Presenting Joshua Bell,Polygram Records — —
1991 ChaussonConcerto,RavelPiano Trio,London Records — —
1992 Saint-Saëns:Violin Concerto No. 3/Chausson:Poeme,London Records — —
1995 Prokofiev:Violin Concertos & Sonatas,London Records — —
1995 Brahms/SchumannViolin Concertos,London Records — —
1996 TheKreislerAlbum,London Records — —
1997 Barber/Walton/BlochViolin Concertos,Decca Records — —
1997 ShostakovichPiano Trio No. 2,London Records — —
1999 MawViolin Concertos,Sony Classical — —
1999 GershwinFantasy,Sony Classical — —
2000 Sibelius&Goldmark:Violin Concertos,Sony Classical — —
2000 Short Trip Home,withEdgar Meyer,Sam Bush,Mike Marshall,Sony Classical 7 —
2001 BernsteinWest Side StorySuite,Sony Classical 3 —
2002 Beethoven&Mendelssohn:Violin Concertos,Sony Classical 18 —
2004 Romance of the Violin,Sony Classical 1 176
2005 Tchaikovsky:Violin Concerto, Op. 35;Melodie; Danse Russe fromSwan Lake(Act III),Sony Classical 2 —
2005 OST Duft von Lavendel, Sony Classical
2005 Romance of the Violin, Sony Classical
2006 Voice of the Violin,Sony Classical 1 —
2007 CoriglianoThe Red Violin,Sony 1 —
2007 The Essential Joshua Bell,Sony BMG Masterworks 19 —
2008 Vivaldi:The Four Seasons,Sony BMG Masterworks 1 134
2009 Bruch, Mendelssohn, Mozart Violin Concertos (reissues),Decca 9 —
2009 The Best of Joshua Bell,Sony Masterworks 12 —
2009 At Home with Friends,Sony Masterworks
withChris Botti,Kristin Chenoweth,Regina Spektor,Anoushka Shankar,Frankie Moreno, andSting[43] 		1 118
2012 French Impressions,Sony Classical 1 139
2013 Beethoven: Symphonies Nos.4&7,Academy of St Martin in the Fields,Sony Masterworks 1 —
2013 Musical Gifts from Joshua Bell and Friends, Sony Classical
2014 Bach,Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sony Classical — —
2016 For the Love of Brahms,Academy of St Martin in the Fields,Classical — —
2017 Joshua Bell – The Classical Collection, Sony Classical
2017 Brigitte Klassik zum Genießen: Joshua Bell, Sony Classical
2018 Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 / Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26, Sony Classical
2020 At Home With Music[44]

Soundtrack albums[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abCarmel McCoubrey (May 24, 2002)."Alan P. Bell, 70, Researcher Of Influences on Homosexuality".RetrievedApril 12,2024.
  2. ^Robinson, George (October 12, 2006)."Violinist Joshua Bell walks in the footsteps of masters".The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.RetrievedOctober 13,2006.
  3. ^Joshua Bell to return home for benefit performance.Indiana UniversityMedia Relations. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
  4. ^Warren Boroson (January 20, 2012)."Q&A with Joshua Bell".Jewish Standard.RetrievedNovember 16,2019.
  5. ^The Univee, yearbook, 1978–9
  6. ^"Music: The Teacher, The Lesson".Bloomington Herald-Times,January 15, 1989.
  7. ^BHSN Yearbook, 1984.
  8. ^Hadley, Donita (July 16, 2000). "Bell's Musical Journey".The Times-Mail (Bedford, Indiana).p. 37.
  9. ^Szatmary, Peter (April 21, 2003). "Arts awards go to Bell, others".The Indianapolis Star.p. 35.
  10. ^Roger Webster, "Auction Helps Create Music In Two Countries,"15 Minutes Magazine,December 2002
  11. ^15th Anniversary of the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra (ARYO) "Dacha on the Green"
  12. ^abGene Weingarten,"Pearls Before Breakfast"The Washington Post,April 8, 2007, Page W10.ArchivedJune 21, 2010, at theWayback Machine
  13. ^Joshua Bell (January 26, 2017)."Joshua Bell: Here's the story behind my very famous, once-stolen violin".Tampa Bay Times.RetrievedAugust 5,2017.
  14. ^"Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, c. 1732, the 'Tom Taylor'"ArchivedFebruary 7, 2010, at theWayback Machine,accessed October 2, 2013
  15. ^Andrew Druckenbrod (April 11, 2013)."Joshua Bell treasures the Stradivarius at center of 'Return of the Violin'".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedAugust 5,2017.
  16. ^E-strings for the future musician.BBCNews, July 18, 2002. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
  17. ^Violinist Bell wins $75,000 Fisher Prize.CNNNews, April 8, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  18. ^"Joshua Bell to join IU Jacobs School of Music faculty"(Press release). Indiana University. May 3, 2007.RetrievedApril 12,2024.
  19. ^"Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement".www.achievement.org.American Academy of Achievement.
  20. ^"2008 Summit Highlights Photo".2008.Violin virtuoso Joshua Bell receives the Golden Plate Award from Awards Council member Dr. Benjamin S. Carson.
  21. ^"2009 Summit Highlights Photo".2009.Golden Plate Awards Council member and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell performs the "Meditation" by Massenet.
  22. ^James Inverne (May 27, 2011)."Joshua Bell is the new music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields".RetrievedMay 29,2011.
  23. ^"Joshua Bell Named Music Director of Academy of St. Martin in the Fields"by Rory Williams,Strings Magazine(May 27, 2011
  24. ^Melissa Block (February 15, 2013)."From Bow To Baton: Violinist Joshua Bell Conducts Beethoven".National Public Radio – All Things Considered.RetrievedAugust 5,2017.
  25. ^"Academy of St Martin in the Fields Music Director Joshua Bell renews contract for a further three years"(PDF)(Press release). Academy of St Martin in the Fields. July 27, 2017.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
  26. ^Hannah Francis (July 24, 2017)."Helpmann Awards 2017 winners: Kosky'sSauland Belvoir'sThe Drover's Wifedominate ".RetrievedApril 12,2024.
  27. ^"Joshua Bell extends tenure as Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields"(Press release). IMG Artists. April 12, 2024.RetrievedApril 12,2024.
  28. ^Carlson, Erin (February 20, 2013)."Oscars 2013: Best Song Contender J. Ralph on Scarlett Johansson's 'World-Class' Singing Voice".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJuly 12,2013.
  29. ^"Joshua Bell".IMDb.com.RetrievedSeptember 29,2016.
  30. ^"Grammy Winning Violinist Joshua Bell Guest-Stars on TV's Royal Pains".Jacobs School of Music.Archived fromthe originalon September 18, 2020.RetrievedJune 20,2016.
  31. ^Howard Kurtz(April 8, 2008)."The PostWins 6 Pulitzer Prizes ".The Washington Post.p. A01.RetrievedFebruary 24,2009.
  32. ^Barbara and David P. Mikkelson. "Bell Curved"Snopes;January 6, 2009
  33. ^Video:"Stop and Hear the Music".The Washington Post. April 10, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 17,2012.
  34. ^Find Your Way: A Busker's DocumentaryatIMDbEdit this at Wikidata
  35. ^"Gene Weingarten: Setting the record straight on the Joshua Bell experiment".The Washington Post.October 14, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on March 22, 2023.
  36. ^"Joshua Bell: The lad with the strad grows up"by Peter Culshaw,The Daily Telegraph,February 19, 2009.
  37. ^"A touring Joshua Bell sustained by thoughts of home"by Greg Stepanich,The Miami Herald,January 20, 2011.
  38. ^"Joshua Bell Tells All"by Charles Donelan,Santa Barbara Independent,February 14, 2013
  39. ^Kerry Clawson (February 21, 2020)."Violinist Bell, Academy to bring energy to Akron".Akron Beacon Journal.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
  40. ^"The music man: Josh Bell at mid-career"byAnne Midgette,The Washington Post,February 6, 2017.
  41. ^2019-10-08T10:13:00+01:00."Joshua Bell gets married".The Strad.RetrievedOctober 11,2019.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^Boroson, Warren."Q&A with Joshua Bell".jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com.RetrievedSeptember 11,2023.
  43. ^At Home with FriendsatAllMusic
  44. ^"Joshua Bell: At Home with Music | PBS".PBS.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toJoshua Bell.
Cultural offices
Preceded by Music Director, Academy of St Martin in the Fields
2011–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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