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Joshua BellAmerican violinist
Date of Birth: 09.12.1967
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Joshua David Bell: A Virtuoso Violinist
- Mentorship with Joseph Gingold
- Career Highlights
- Instruments and Recordings
- Collaborations and Accolades
- Personal Life
Joshua David Bell: A Virtuoso Violinist
Early Life and Musical BeginningsJoshua David Bell was born on December 9, 1967, in Bloomington, Indiana, to a psychologist father and a psychotherapist mother. Bell's parents recognized his musical talent at an early age and began encouraging his interest in the violin. At the age of four, he began taking violin lessons from Mimi Zweig.
Mentorship with Joseph Gingold
Concerned about potential pressure on their son, Bell's parents convinced renowned violinist and pedagogue Joseph Gingold that Joshua had a genuine passion for the violin. Impressed by Joshua's talent and his parents' commitment, Gingold took him under his wing. Under Gingold's guidance, Bell's violin skills blossomed, and by the age of twelve, he had achieved considerable success.
Career Highlights
At the age of fourteen, Bell made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Riccardo Muti. He continued his studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music while completing high school two years ahead of schedule. In 1989, he graduated from Indiana University with a degree in violin performance and an Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Bell made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1985 with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Since then, he has performed with virtually every major orchestra and conductor around the world. In addition to the traditional repertoire, Bell has also embraced new works, including the violin concerto dedicated to him by Nicolas Maw, which earned him a Grammy Award in 1993. He has also performed the violin solo on John Corigliano's Academy Award-winning soundtrack for "The Red Violin" and starred in the films "Ladies in Lavender" and "Music of the Heart."
Instruments and Recordings
Bell currently plays the "Gibson ex Huberman" Stradivarius violin, crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713. This instrument was stolen from its previous owner, Bronisław Huberman, twice, before ultimately being purchased by Bell. Bell's recordings have sold over five million copies, including the acclaimed "Romance of the Violin," which spent 54 weeks at the top of the classical music charts. His most recent album, "Vivaldi: The Four Seasons," was released in 2008.
Collaborations and Accolades
Bell maintains close relationships with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and serves as a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He also serves on the artist selection committee at the Kennedy Center Honor and as an adjunct associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Personal Life
Bell has been the subject of media attention for his 2007 performance as a street musician in the Washington, D.C. subway, an experiment that raised questions about the value of classical music in contemporary society. He has received numerous awards, including the Avery Fisher Prize in 2007 and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003.
Bell currently resides in Gramercy Park, Manhattan. He has a son, Joseph, with his former partner, Lisa Matricardi. He continues to pursue his passion for athletics, particularly golf and tennis.
