Miri Ben-Ari

Ben-Ari was born and raised in Tel Aviv District,{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishindependent.ca/oldsite/archives/july11/archives11july01-01.html |title=Israeli makes history: Ben-Ari will play at Miss Universe China |first=Eva |last=Cohen |work=Jewish Independent |date=1 July 2011 |access-date=21 December 2014 |archive-date=21 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221184131/http://www.jewishindependent.ca/oldsite/archives/july11/archives11july01-01.html }} Israel. She grew up playing classical music;{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485394/hiphop-violinist-enlists-mya-fabolous.jhtml |title=Violinist Miri Ben-Ari Enlists Mya, Fabolous, Kanye West For Hip-Hop Debut |first=Shaheem |last=Reid |publisher=MTV |date=1 March 2004 |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-date=12 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112224530/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485394/hiphop-violinist-enlists-mya-fabolous.jhtml }} she started training at age 5{{cite web|url=http://www.israel21c.org/201106289181/people/miri-ben-ari-hip-hop-violinist-and-humanitarian|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415023122/http://www.israel21c.org/201106289181/people/miri-ben-ari-hip-hop-violinist-and-humanitarian|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2013|title=Miri Ben-Ari: Hip-hop violinist and humanitarian|first=Abigail Klein|last=Leichman|work=israel21c.org|date=28 June 2011|access-date=2 July 2011}} and at age 12, she was presented with a violin by Isaac Stern.{{cite magazine|date=23 September 2005 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-violinist-miri-ben-ari-debuts-20050923 |title=Kanye West Violinist Miri Ben-Ari Debuts |first=Loolwa |last=Khazzoom |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-date=10 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210044908/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-violinist-miri-ben-ari-debuts-20050923 }} During her mandatory military service, she served playing for the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra (IDF's Orchestra).{{cite news|access-date=2 July 2011|issn=0743-1791|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/10/02/violinist_has_the_hip_hop_world_on_a_string/|title=Violinist has the hip-hop world on a string|first=Renee|last=Grapham|work=The Boston Globe|date=2 October 2005}} During her stint in the Israeli military, she heard an album by Charlie Parker and immediately fell in love with jazz; she later said "My soul was sold."{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshireweb.com/rogovoy/thebeat/beat001103.html |title=Miri Ben-Ari |first=Seth |last=Rogovoy |work=berkshireweb.com |date=3 November 2000 |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-date=2011-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927050040/http://www.berkshireweb.com/rogovoy/thebeat/beat001103.html }} Following her service, she moved from Israel to New York{{cite news|url=http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/137089/hip-hop-violinist-miri-ben-ari-a-role-model-for-o/ |title=Hip-Hop Violinist Miri Ben-Ari: A Role Model for Our Daughters |first=Allison Kaplan |last=Sommer |work=The Jewish Daily Forward |date=15 April 2011 |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313031151/http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/137089/hip-hop-violinist-miri-ben-ari-a-role-model-for-o/ |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=live }} in hopes of using her classical training on stage and attended the Jazz department at The New School, but was expelled after two semesters due to poor attendance caused by Ben-Ari playing gigs to pay the rent.

She released her first solo CD, Sahara, in 1999.{{Cite web |title=Ben-Ari, Miri {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ben-ari-miri |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}

Her persistence earned her an appearance on BET's 106 & Park; the viewer response netted her a return visit a few weeks later. Her performances caught the eye of Jay-Z, who invited her to play as one of the headliners of New York radio station Hot 97's annual Summer Jam concert in 2001, where she netted a standing ovation. Around the same time, a mutual friend introduced Ben-Ari to Wyclef Jean, who invited her to perform with him at his Carnegie Hall show, the first by a hip-hop artist at the venue.{{cite web|url=http://www.andpop.com/2004/04/22/violin-is-the-voice-of-miri-ben-ari/ |title=Violin is the Voice of Miri Ben-Ari | andPOP.com |first=Adam |last=Gonshor |work=andpop.com |access-date=2 July 2011 |date=4 April 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927063025/http://www.andpop.com/2004/04/22/violin-is-the-voice-of-miri-ben-ari/ |archive-date=27 September 2012 |url-status=live }}

In 2003, she released her second CD Temple of Beautiful, and followed that up with a live CD the following year entitled Live at the Blue Note.{{Cite web |last=Samuals |first=David |date=5 September 2012 |title=Q&A: Miri Ben-Ari |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/qa-miri-ben-ari |website=Tablet}}

She won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2005 as one of the co-writers of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks".{{cite news|url=http://www.rapnews.net/0-202-260005-00.html |title=Rap News Network - Hip-Hop News: Hip Hop Violinist Wins Grammy |work=rapnews.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927173054/http://www.rapnews.net/0-202-260005-00.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=2 July 2011 }} In 2005, Universal Music Group released her fourth CD and first to focus on hip-hop style, entitled The Hip-Hop Violinist. As part of the promotion for it, she was part of Reebok's "I Am What I Am" global advertising campaign; Reebok was also part of the video for the first single from the CD, "We Gonna Win".{{cite press release|publisher=Reebok |date=25 August 2005 |url=http://www.netweed.com/hiphoppress/2005/08/reebok-and-hip-hop-violinist-miri-ben.html |title=Reebok and Hip-Hop Violinist Miri Ben-Ari Make Beautiful Music Together with First-of-its Kind Partnership |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929230242/http://www.netweed.com/hiphoppress/2005/08/reebok-and-hip-hop-violinist-miri-ben.html |archive-date=29 September 2011 |url-status=live }}

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/hip-hop-violinist-preps-solo-debut-61742/

In 2006, she co-founded Gedenk (Yiddish for "remember"), an organization dedicated to promoting education about the Holocaust in the United States.{{cite news |title=Yad Vashim Young Leadership Hosts Gala in Support of Holocaust Awareness |first=Daniel |last=Perez |url=http://www.jewishvoiceny.com/archives/20110401-JewishVoice.pdf |newspaper=The Jewish Voice |date=1 April 2011 |page=17 |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626235936/http://www.jewishvoiceny.com/archives/20110401-JewishVoice.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-26 |url-status=dead }} That year she collaborated with the Bachata band Aventura (band) on the song José, released on Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden

https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/miri-ben-ari.279846/

In 2007, she received the International Jewish Woman To Watch of 2007 Award and in 2008 she received the "2008 Israel Film Festival Visionary Award," "The Jewish Federation" award and "the American Society for Yad Vashem" Award.[http://mlb.com/mlb/news/entertainment/artists/miribenari/ MLB entertainment]

In 2009, she released Symphony of Brotherhood, an instrumental track featuring Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. In part due to the song, she received the first Martin Luther King Jr. Israeli Award in January 2008 at a ceremony hosted by the President of Israel, Shimon Peres.{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishsantabarbara.org/page.aspx?id=165255 |title=Miri Ben-Ari Receives Martin Luther King Jr. Award |work=Jewish Santa Barbara |access-date=21 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108201822/http://www.jewishsantabarbara.org/page.aspx?id=165255 |archive-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=dead }}

In March 2011, Ben-Ari was invited to the White House by Michelle Obama as part of a Women's History Month celebration, to perform and to be honored as a "remarkable Woman". In July 2011 she performed at the 2011 Miss Universe China pageant. and in October 2011 she performed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Presidential memorial dedication in Washington, DC.

In 2011, she was named by Ynet as one of the 10 most influential Israelis in America.{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4095964,00.html |title=ynet 100 הישראלים המובילים באמריקה - ידיעות אמריקה |publisher=Ynet |date=18 July 2011 |language=he |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722104604/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-4095964%2C00.html |archive-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2011 }}

In 2012, Ben-Ari was invited to perform for U.S. President Barack Obama.{{cite journal|last=Cahill |first=Greg |date=2 October 2014 |title=Violinist Miri Ben-Ari to Perform at Nobel Prize Event |url=http://www.allthingsstrings.com/layout/set/print/News/News/Violinist-Miri-Ben-Ari-to-Perform-at-Nobel-Prize-Event |journal=All Things Strings |location=San Rafael, CA |publisher=String Letter Publishing |access-date=10 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221190718/http://www.allthingsstrings.com/layout/set/print/News/News/Violinist-Miri-Ben-Ari-to-Perform-at-Nobel-Prize-Event |archive-date=21 December 2014 |url-status=live }}

In 2013, she was appointed as "Goodwill Ambassador of Music" at the United Nations Association-Brazil.

In 2013, she was featured in the trance song Intense by DJ and producer Armin Van Buuren. The track was the title track of Van Buuren's album Intense and was chosen as the "Tune of the Year" of 2013 by A State Of Trance

Miri Ben-Ari is signed with the Harman Kardon brand as a Beautiful Sound artist to be featured globally in advertisements and in special appearances as an ambassador for the Harman Kardon "Beautiful Sound" brand campaign.

In 2014, she was honored with the "Aviv Award" by The America-Israel Cultural Foundation 75th Anniversary Gala at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, hosted by Itzhak Perlman and introduced by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and CEO of Harman International Dinesh Paliwal.

Ben-Ari was a special guest feature with Arianna Huffingtons THIRD METRIC LIVE and Armin Van Buuren ARMIN ONLY-INTENSE world tour. She became a featured blogger for the Huffington and was chosen by top Israeli news media Mako and Ynet as one of the top ten most influential Israelis now living in the United States.

Following the great success of its first year, Ben-Ari continues to promote "The Gedenk Award For Tolerance" campaign in 2015, now in its second year partnership with Alliance for Young Artists & Writers sponsored by Ben-Ari's non-profit organization [http://gedenkmovement.org GEDENK]. Ben-Ari received the first-ever "Girl Up Advocate Award" to celebrate international Women's Day from the United Nations Foundation and is the recipient of the 2015 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.Alliance for Young Artists & Writers#Sponsored Awards

A longtime resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, Ben-Ari moved from Edgewater to Fort Lee in 2016.Beckerman, Jim. [http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/pioneering-pop-and-hip-hop-violinist-to-visit-englewood-s-elisabeth-morrow-school-video-1.1645815 "Pioneering pop and hip-hop violinist to visit Englewood's Elisabeth Morrow School"], The Record (Bergen County), 15 August 2016. Accessed 16 August 2016. "But Ben-Ari, who just moved to Fort Lee a few months ago — previously she had lived in Edgewater — will be stopping by Elisabeth Morrow in person Tuesday to teach a master class, give an in-school performance (not open to the public), and get the 200-plus students prepared for their big day Thursday."

In 2018, she released the single "Quiet Storm". Ben-Ari was featured by Tanzanian recording artist Diamond Platnumz on the song "Baila". The song won in 2019 "Best Collaboration Award" by African Entertainment Awards USA.

In 2019, Ben-Ari produced and released a single "Watcha Gonna Do" featuring her son Dorel. That year she started collaborating with Nigerian producer Young D. "The Beat Boss" for the project "Afrostringz'. The duo released a holiday song "Afro Christmas".

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In 2020 Ben-Ari and her music partner Young D. launched the music group "Afrostringz" with a first single and music video "She Don't Know". Ben-Ari was appointed by NJ Governor Phil Murphy as a member of the New Jersey-Israel commission. In 2021 Ben-Ari became a TED speaker delivering TED talks dedicated to creativity and entrepreneurship "How to make the violin cool" and harmony & diversity "4 ways to strive with harmony]".

In 2022, Ben-Ari released the song "Symphony of Brotherhood Rise" with superstar rapper Flo Rida and Erik E. "Smooth" Hicks, featuring Dr. Martin King Jr with the iconic speech "I have a dream", a special release for Dr. Martin Luther King Day. The song entered the official Spotify MLK playlist.

In 2023, Miri Ben-Ari produced a special concert for Black History Month, hosted by the New Jersey-Israel Commission to Governor Phil Murphy and COGIC (Church of God in Christ) and attended by government officials and community leaders, including NJ Secretary of State Tahesha Way, former U.S. Senator-NJ Governor Jon Corzine, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rabbis, and Bishops.

Ben-Ari was invited as the headline performer at The "110 First Lady's Luncheon," honoring The First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

In 2024, Miri Ben-Ari launched a music education program for high school students in New York called Symphony of Brotherhood, opening Black History Month attended by NYC Mayor Eric Adams. In 2025, she expanded the program to New Jersey, launching it in partnership with the City of Newark Board of Education and NJ Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way to open Black History Month.

In 2025 Miri Ben-Ari released the Amapiano song "Finally" with Tanzanian artist Harmonize (musician)

• 1999: Sahara
• 2000: Song of the Promised Land
• 2003: Temple of Beautiful
• 2004: Live at the Blue Note
• 2005: The Hip-Hop Violinist

• Aventura - José (K.O.B. Live) 2006
• Akon - Miss Melody (Trouble) 2004 and (The Hip-Hop Violinist)'' 2005

{{check quotation|reason=mismatched italics}}*Wyclef Jean Feat. M.O.P. - Masquerade (Masquerade) 2002

• Alicia Keys - Fallin' (Songs in A Minor) 2001
• Twista - Overnight Celebrity (Kamikaze) 2004
• Kanye West - We Don't Care, Graduation Day, Jesus Walks, The New Workout Plan, Breathe In Breathe Out, Two Words (The College Dropout) 2004
• Kanye West - Late (bonus track) (Late Registration) 2005
• Brandy - Talk About Our Love (Afrodisiac) 2004
• Brandy - Where You Wanna Be (feat. T.I.) (Afrodisiac) 2004
• Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Eve, Ashanti, Wyclef Jean, Monica, Queen Latifah, Jadakiss, Nas, Usher, Musiq, Mýa, Fabolous, Solange, Akon, Jamie Foxx, Babyface - Wake Up Everybody (Wake Up Everybody) 2004
• DJ Logic - "Soul Kissing" (The Anomaly) 2001
• John Legend - Live It Up (Get Lifted) 2004
• Janet Jackson - I Want You (Damita Jo) 2004
• Lil' Mo - Yeah Yeah Yeah (Syndicated: The Lil' Mo Hour) 2006
• Ted Nash - Rhyme & Reason (Arabesque, 1999), Sidewalk Meeting (Arabesque, 2001)
• Santi Debriano - ( Circle Chant (album) ) 1999
• Santi Debriano - Artistic License (Savant, 2001)
• Subliminal - Klassit ve'Parsi (Classy & Persian) (Bediuk Kshe'Chashavtem She'Hakol Nigmar (Just When You Thought It Was All Over)) 2006
• Don Omar - Intro - Predica (King Of Kings) 2006
• Deemi - Soundtrack of My Life 2007
• Tarkan - Who's Gonna Love You Now? (Come Closer (re-release) ) (2008)
• Thalía - ¿A quién le importa?
• Styles P - We Gonna Win
• Zion & Lennox feat. Fatman Scoop & Pitbull - ¿Dónde Están las Mamis? (Yo Voy)/Jump & Spread Out [Remix] (Motivando A La Yal: Special Edition/The Hip-Hop Violinist)
• Erykah Badu - My Life
• T-Pain - Kings
• Savage Feat. Akon - Moonshine
• Wu-Tang Clan - Reunited
• Consequence - Waiting On You
• Armin van Buuren - Intense
• Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano - One Life
• Diamond Platnumz - Baila - song No. 8 from the album "A Boy from Tandale", released on 14 March in Tanzania.
• Flo Rida - Symphony of Brotherhood Rise ft Dr. Martin Luther King
• Harmonize (musician) - Finally released in 2025 inTanzania.

• Maroon 5 - "This Love (remix) with Kanye West"
• Britney Spears - "Me Against the Music (remix)"
• Consequence - Waiting on you

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{{Commons category|Miri Ben-Ari}}

• [http://www.miriben-ari.com/ MiriBen-Ari.com] - Official Site
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040415151811/http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/ben_ari_miri/artist.jhtml MTV artist profile]
• [http://www.djbooth.net/index/interviews/entry/miri-ben-ari-interview/ The DJ Booth: Miri Ben-Ari Interview] (May '07)

{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Song}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:Israeli classical violinists

Category:Israeli hip-hop musicians

Category:Israeli emigrants to the United States

Category:Jewish Israeli musicians

Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music

Category:Hip-hop violinists

Category:Israeli classical composers

Category:Jewish classical violinists

Category:Living people

Category:People from Tel Aviv District

Category:American women classical composers

Category:Israeli women classical composers

Category:Israeli women violinists

Category:American women violinists

Category:People from Edgewater, New Jersey

Category:People from Fort Lee, New Jersey

Category:21st-century Israeli women musicians

Category:21st-century classical violinists

Category:Israeli hip-hop record producers

Category:21st-century Israeli Jews

Category:Musicians from Bergen County, New Jersey