Joshua Bell

Bell was born in Bloomington, Indiana, one of four children of Shirley Bell, a therapist, and Alan P. Bell,{{cite news | title=Alan P. Bell, 70, Researcher Of Influences on Homosexuality | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/24/us/alan-p-bell-70-researcher-of-influences-on-homosexuality.html | author=Carmel McCoubrey | work=The New York Times | date=2002-05-24 | access-date=2024-04-12}} a psychologist and professor at Indiana University (IU), and former Kinsey researcher.{{cite journal|journal=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles|title=Violinist Joshua Bell walks in the footsteps of masters|url= http://www.jewishjournal.com/music/article/violinist_joshua_bell_walks_in_the_footsteps_of_masters_20061013/|first=George|last=Robinson|date=October 12, 2006|access-date=October 13, 2006}}[http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/995.html Joshua Bell to return home for benefit performance]. Indiana University Media Relations. Retrieved January 28, 2007. His father was of Scottish descent and his mother was Jewish (her father was born in Mandatory Palestine and her mother was from Minsk).{{Cite web|url=https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/qa-with-joshua-bell/|publisher=Jewish Standard|author=Warren Boroson|date=January 20, 2012|access-date=November 16, 2019|title=Q&A with Joshua Bell}}

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.The Univee, yearbook, 1978–9

Bell's first violin teacher was Donna Bricht, widow of Indiana University music faculty member Walter Bricht."Music: The Teacher, The Lesson". Bloomington Herald-Times, January 15, 1989. His second was Mimi Zweig, and his third the violinist and pedagog Josef 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|date=January 2023}}

At age 14, Bell appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti. He studied violin at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and graduated from Bloomington High School North in 1984.BHSN Yearbook, 1984. 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"{{cite news |last=Hadley |first=Donita |date=16 July 2000 |title= Bell's Musical Journey |work= The Times-Mail (Bedford, Indiana) |page=37}} and received the Indiana Governor's Arts Award.{{cite news |last= Szatmary |first= Peter |date=21 April 2003 |title=Arts awards go to Bell, others |work= The Indianapolis Star |page=35}}

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Bell made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1985, at age 17, with the St. Louis Symphony. In 1990, at age 22, he went on the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra's first tour of Russia.{{Cite web |url=http://15minutesmagazine.com/archives/issue_45/mai_0302-04.htm |title=Roger Webster, "Auction Helps Create Music In Two Countries," 15 Minutes Magazine, December 2002 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105102958/http://www.15minutesmagazine.com/archives/Issue_45/mai_0302-04.htm |url-status=dead }}[https://www.patrickmcmullan.com/events/5b3ef4fb9f929066764451a5/ 15th Anniversary of the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra (ARYO) "Dacha on the Green"] 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 a Grammy Award for his recording. He performed the solo part on John Corigliano's Oscar-winning soundtrack to the film The Red Violin and was featured in Ladies in Lavender. He also appeared in the movie Music of the Heart, with other violinists.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Bell's instrument is the Gibson ex Huberman, a Stradivarius made in 1713 during what is known as Stradivari'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. Bell had played the violin; its owner at the time, violinist Norbert Brainin, jokingly told him that it could be his for $4 million. On August 3, 2001, Bell was in London to perform at The Proms; before the concert he was approached by J & 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.{{Cite news| url=https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/stage/joshua-bell-heres-the-story-behind-my-very-famous-once-stolen-violin/2310865/ | title=Joshua Bell: Here's the story behind my very famous, once-stolen violin | work=Tampa Bay Times | author=Joshua Bell | date=January 26, 2017 | access-date=August 5, 2017}} He later sold his previous violin, the Tom Taylor Stradivarius,[http://www.cozio.com/instrument.aspx?id=541 "Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, c. 1732, the 'Tom Taylor'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207231946/http://cozio.com/Instrument.aspx?id=541 |date=February 7, 2010 }}, accessed October 2, 2013 for a little more than $2 million and bought the Gibson ex Huberman for a little under the $4 million asking price. The 2013 documentary The Return of the Violin tells the story of the instrument's theft, return, and subsequent acquisition by Bell.{{Cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2013/04/11/Joshua-Bell-treasures-the-Stradivarius-at-center-of-Return-of-the-Violin/stories/201304110272 | title=Joshua Bell treasures the Stradivarius at center of 'Return of the Violin' | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | author=Andrew Druckenbrod | date=April 11, 2013 | access-date=August 5, 2017}} Bell's first recording with the Gibson ex Huberman was Romance of the Violin for Sony Classical Records in 2003.

Bell served as artistic partner for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra from 2004 until 2007, and as a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He also serves on the artists' selection committee for the Kennedy Center Honors and is an adjunct associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1930950.stm E-strings for the future musician]. BBC News, July 18, 2002. Retrieved January 28, 2007.

Bell won the Avery Fisher Prize on April 10, 2007, at Lincoln Center in New York City. The prize is given once every few years to classical instrumentalists for outstanding achievement.[http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/05/joshuabell.fisher/index.html Violinist Bell wins $75,000 Fisher Prize]. CNN News, April 8, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2007. On May 3, 2007, Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music announced that Bell had joined the faculty as a senior lecturer.{{cite press release | url=http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/5558.html | title=Joshua Bell to join IU Jacobs School of Music faculty | publisher=Indiana University | date=3 May 2007 | access-date=2024-04-12}}

In 2008, Bell received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/}}{{cite news|date=2008 |title=2008 Summit Highlights Photo | url= https://achievement.org/summit/2008/|quote= Violin virtuoso Joshua Bell receives the Golden Plate Award from Awards Council member Dr. Benjamin S. Carson.}}{{cite news|date=2009 |title=2009 Summit Highlights Photo | url= https://achievement.org/summit/2009/|quote= Golden Plate Awards Council member and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell performs the "Meditation" by Massenet.}}

Bell collaborated with Hans Zimmer by providing violin solos for the soundtrack of the 2009 film Angels & Demons, based on Dan Brown's 2000 novel of the same name.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In May 2011, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) named Bell its music director.{{cite news | title=Joshua Bell is the new music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields | url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/joshua-bell-is-the-new-music-director-of-the-academy-of-st-martin-in-the-fields | author=James Inverne | date=2011-05-27 | access-date=2011-05-29}}[https://archive.today/20130203174018/http://www.stringsmagazine.com/News/News/Joshua-Bell-Named-Music-Director-of-Academy-of-St.-Martin-in-the-Fields "Joshua Bell Named Music Director of Academy of St. Martin in the Fields"] by Rory Williams, Strings Magazine (May 27, 2011 He has recorded commercially with the ASMF for the Sony Classical label.{{Cite news| url=https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2013/02/18/172113935/from-bow-to-baton-violinist-joshua-bell-conducts-Beethoven | title=From Bow To Baton: Violinist Joshua Bell Conducts Beethoven | work=National Public Radio – All Things Considered | author=Melissa Block | date=February 15, 2013 | access-date=August 5, 2017}} In July 2017, the ASMF announced a three-year extension of his contract, through 2020.{{cite press release | url=http://www.asmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ASMF-2017-18-Season-Press-Release.pdf | title=Academy of St Martin in the Fields Music Director Joshua Bell renews contract for a further three years | publisher=Academy of St Martin in the Fields | date=27 July 2017 | access-date=2017-08-02}} Bell and the orchestra won the 2017 Helpmann Award for Best Individual Classical Music Performance.{{cite news | title=Helpmann Awards 2017 winners: Kosky's Saul and Belvoir's The Drover's Wife dominate | url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/stage/helpmann-awards-2017-winners-koskys-saul-and-belvoirs-the-drovers-wife-dominate-20170724-gxhlus.html | author=Hannah Francis | date=2017-07-24 | access-date=2024-04-12}} In April 2024, the ASMF announced an additional extension of Bell's contract as its music director through August 2028.{{cite press release | url=https://imgartists.com/news/joshua-bell-extends-tenure-as-music-director-of-the-academy-of-st-martin-in-the-fields/ | title=Joshua Bell extends tenure as Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields | publisher=IMG Artists | date=12 April 2024 | access-date=2024-04-12}}

In 2013, Bell accompanied Scarlett Johansson in the song "Before My Time". Written by J. Ralph for the documentary Chasing Ice, it received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.{{cite news|last=Carlson|first=Erin|title=Oscars 2013: Best Song Contender J. Ralph on Scarlett Johansson's 'World-Class' Singing Voice|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-j-ralph-best-song-422620|access-date=July 12, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 20, 2013}}

Bell played himself in three episodes of Mozart in the Jungle in 2014, 2015, and 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068310/#actor|title=Joshua Bell|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=September 29, 2016}} In 2016, he had a cameo in the penultimate musical episode of Royal Pains.{{cite web |title=Grammy Winning Violinist Joshua Bell Guest-Stars on TV's Royal Pains |url=https://blogs.music.indiana.edu/strings/2016/06/20/grammy-winning-violinist-joshua-bell-guest-stars-on-tvs-royal-pains |website=Jacobs School of Music |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918133709/https://blogs.music.indiana.edu/strings/2016/06/20/grammy-winning-violinist-joshua-bell-guest-stars-on-tvs-royal-pains |archive-date=18 September 2020}} He also appeared as himself in episode 8 ("Quacktice Makes Perfect") of the 2017 Netflix original series Julie's Greenroom.{{Cite web |title=Julie's Greenroom - Episode 108: Quacktice Makes Perfect |date=September 29, 2017 |url=https://www.jimhensonsfamilyhub.com/julies-greenroom-guest-stars |access-date=2023-09-09 |publisher=Jim Henson's Family Hub}}

In October 2024, the New Jersey Symphony announced the appointment of Bell as its new principal guest conductor, effective with the 2025–2026 season, with an initial contract of four seasons.{{cite press release | url=https://www.njsymphony.org/news/detail/joshua-bell-named-new-jersey-symphony-principal-guest-conductor-beginning-in-202526-season | title=Joshua Bell named New Jersey Symphony principal guest conductor, beginning in 2025–26 season | publisher=New Jersey Symphony Orchestra | date=10 October 2024 | access-date=2024-10-16}}

In an experiment initiated by The Washington Post columnist Gene Weingarten, Bell donned a baseball cap and played as an incognito busker at the Metro subway station L'Enfant Plaza in 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).Gene Weingarten, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html "Pearls Before Breakfast"] The Washington Post, April 8, 2007, Page W10. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621173729/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html |date=June 21, 2010 }} Three days earlier, he earned considerably more playing the same repertoire at a concert. Weingarten won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for his article on the experiment.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040701359_2.html?sid=ST2008040701372|title=The Post Wins 6 Pulitzer Prizes|author=Howard Kurtz|author-link=Howard Kurtz|access-date=February 24, 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 8, 2008|page=A01}}[http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/bell.asp Barbara and David P. Mikkelson. "Bell Curved"] Snopes; January 6, 2009 The Washington Post posted the video on YouTubeVideo: {{cite video|title="Stop and Hear the Music"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/hnOPu0_YWhw| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=The Washington Post|date=April 10, 2007|access-date=February 17, 2012}}{{cbignore}} and a feature-length documentary, Find Your Way: A Busker's Documentary, chronicled Bell's experience.{{IMDb title|3233628|Find Your Way: A Busker's Documentary}} A somewhat inaccurate retelling of the story went viral.{{cite news |title=Gene Weingarten: Setting the record straight on the Joshua Bell experiment |date=2014-10-14 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322134305/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2014/10/14/gene-weingarten-setting-the-record-straight-on-the-joshua-bell-experiment/ |archive-date=2023-03-22 |url-status=live |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2014/10/14/gene-weingarten-setting-the-record-straight-on-the-joshua-bell-experiment/}}

Bell and his former partner, Lisa Matricardi, have three sons: Josef (born 2007),[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/4697555/Joshua-Bell-The-lad-with-the-strad-grows-up.html "Joshua Bell: The lad with the strad grows up"] by Peter Culshaw, The Daily Telegraph, February 19, 2009.{{cite news | title=A touring Joshua Bell sustained by thoughts of home | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/nightlife/article225876935.html | work=Miami Herald | author=Greg Stepanich | date=2011-01-20 | access-date=2024-10-08}} and twins Benjamin and Samuel (born 2010).{{cite news | title=Joshua Bell Tells All | url=http://www.independent.com/news/2013/feb/14/joshua-bell-tells-all/ | work=Santa Barbara Independent | author=Charles Donelan | date=2013-02-14 | access-date=2024-10-08}}{{Cite news| url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/entertainment/20200221/violinist-bell-academy-to-bring-energy-to-akron | title=Violinist Bell, Academy to bring energy to Akron | work=Akron Beacon Journal | author=Kerry Clawson | date=February 21, 2020 | access-date=January 28, 2021}} On October 5, 2019, Bell married opera singer Larisa Martinez at their home in Mount Kisco, New York.{{cite news | title=The music man: Josh Bell at mid-career | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/the-music-man-josh-bell-at-mid-career/2017/02/06/b193b700-ea3f-11e6-bf6f-301b6b443624_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | author=Anne Midgette | date=2017-02-06 | access-date=2024-10-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestrad.com/news/joshua-bell-gets-married/9573.article|title=Joshua Bell gets married|website=The Strad|language=en|access-date=October 11, 2019}} They also live in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan.{{Cite web |last=Boroson |first=Warren |title=Q&A with Joshua Bell |url=http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/qa-with-joshua-bell/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com |date=January 20, 2012 |language=en-US}}

{{Category see also|Joshua Bell albums}}

• Chasing Ice Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2012
• The Flowers of War Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2012: Joshua Bell, solo violin
• Angels & Demons Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2009
• Defiance Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2008
• Ladies in Lavender Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2005: Joshua Bell, solo violin
• Iris Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 2001: Joshua Bell, solo violin
• The Red Violin, 1998: Joshua Bell, solo violin

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Joshua Bell}}

• {{Official website|http://www.joshuabell.com/}}
• [https://www.sonyclassical.de/kuenstler/artist-products/Joshua-Bell Joshua Bell at Sony Classical]
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=q12452}}
• {{IMDb name|0068310|Joshua Bell}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130322041603/http://imgartists.com/artist/joshua_bell Joshua Bell on IMG Artists], General Management
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101007170029/http://momentmag.com/moment/issues/2007/08/200708-JewishLife.html "Bell Man"], by Mandy Katz; in-depth profile in moment magazine
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051226021540/http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/05/09/07.php Interview] on The Diane Rehm Show radio program
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080515232842/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/04/09/VI2007040900536.html/ Recording] of Bell's performance in L'Enfant Plaza
• [http://www.mlfilms.com/productions/bach_project Bach & friends Documentary]
• [http://www.classicalarchives.com/feature/joshua_bell_exclusive_interview.html Classical Archives interview]

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{{succession box | title=Music Director, Academy of St Martin in the Fields | before=Sir Neville Marriner | years=2011–present | after=incumbent}}

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