Joshua David Bell (created December 9, 1967) is an American Grammy Award-winning violinist and conductor. He’s since performed with several of the planet ‘s leading orchestras and conductors. In addition to the standard concerto repertoire, Bell has performed new works. He performed the solo part on John Corigliano’s Oscar-winning soundtrack for the movie The Red Violin and was likewise featured in Ladies in Lavender. Bell made an appearance in the film Music of the Heart, a narrative concerning the ability of music, with other prominent violinists. Bell’s instrument is a 300-year old Stradivarius violin known as the Gibson ex Huberman, that has been made in 1713 during what’s known as Antonio Stradivari’s “Golden Era.” This violin was stolen twice in the prior owner, Bronisaw Huberman; the last time the burglar admitted to the action on his deathbed. Bell had held and played the violin, and its particular owner in the time jokingly told Bell the violin may be his for four million dollars. Soon afterwards, by chance, Bell came over the violin again and found it was going to be sold to some German industrialist to become portion of a group. Based on Bell’s web site, Bell “was almost in tears.” Bell subsequently sold his preceding violin, the Tom Taylor Stradivarius, for slightly more than two million dollars and made the purchase of the Gibson ex Huberman to get a small beneath the four million dollar asking price.
Bloomington High School, North Jacobs School of Music
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Lisa Matricardi (m. 1992–1999)
Children
Benjamin Bell, Josef Bell, Samuel Bell
Parents
Shirley Bell, Alan P. Bell
Siblings
Toby Gill, Rachel Bell, Terry Milazzo
Partner
Lisa Matricardi
Nicknames
Joshua David Bell , Bell, Joshua
Awards
Avery Fisher Prize, Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album, Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra), Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Classical
Music Groups
National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program
Movies
Orchestra of Exiles, Verbier Festival
Star Sign
Sagittarius
#
Quote
1
[on dealing with security issues for his $4 million Stradivarius] The last time it was stolen [1936], it was gone for fifty years. The thief confessed on his deathbed. He was a violinist and he covered it in shoe polish and played on it his whole life. But it's the best investment I've ever made, although I'll never see the profits because I will die with this in my hands. Traveling with it is like traveling with a baby. It's irreplaceable, but it won't spontaneously combust.
2
I like blackjack. I like the psychology of poker. I'm addicted to the adrenaline of performing, and I think when you're used to having that high, you look for it in other things. Violinists are notorious gamblers [Henryk] Wieniawski and [Niccolo] Paganini lost their violins gambling.
#
Fact
1
Currently on a world tour [March 2002]
2
Joining his alma mater Indiana University's renowned Jacobs School of Music as a faculty member [2008]
3
On January 12, 2007, with Washington Post Staff Writer Gene Weingarten, he pretended he was a violin street busker at a Washington, D.C. subway stop as an experiment to see if people would pay attention in their rush to get to work at 8 a.m. in the morning.
4
Graduated from Indiana University.
5
Was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in May 2000.
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Spise med Price
2014
TV Series documentary music - 1 episode
For Colored Girls
2010
musician: violin solos
Angels & Demons
2009
musician: violin solos
Defiance
2008/I
musician: violin solos
Silk
2007
musician: violin
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story
2005
musician: violin solos
Ladies in Lavender
2004
musician: violin
Iris
2001/I
musician: solo violin
Great Performances
2001
TV Series musician - 1 episode
The Red Violin
1998
music consultant / musician: solo violin
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bi no tsubo
TV Series 1 episode, 2013 performer - 1 episode, 2013
The 85th Annual Academy Awards
2013
TV Special performer: "Before My Time"
Orchestra of Exiles
2012
Documentary performer: "Viloin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77: 1. Allegro" [sic], "Sonata for Violin and Piano in A: IV. Allegretto Poco Mosso"
Chasing Ice
2012
Documentary "Before My Time" / performer: "Before My Time"
The War
2007
TV Mini-Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Ladies in Lavender
2004
performer: "Carnival of Venice" ca1829, "Meditation" 1894, "Zabawa Weselna", "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair", "Introduction and Tarantelle Op. 43" as "Introduction and Tarantelle", "Fuga from Sonata No.1 in G Minor BWV 1001" 1720 as "Fuga from Sonata No.1"
Music of the Heart
1999
performer: "Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins"
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Royal Pains
2016
TV Series
Joshua Bell
Mozart in the Jungle
2014-2015
TV Series
Joshua Bell
Ladies in Lavender
2004
Violinist for Andrea (uncredited)
The Red Violin
1998
Violinist (Oxford) (uncredited)
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Eye
2008
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Julie's Greenroom
2017
TV Series filming
Himself
Home & Family
2016
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
Tavis Smiley
2008-2016
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Maestro
2015
Documentary
Himself
Find Your Way: A Busker's Documentary
2014
Documentary
Himself
Frankie Moreno: Songs at Home, with Special Guest Joshua Bell
2014
TV Movie
Himself
The Queen Latifah Show
2013
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
Huckabee
2013
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
My Music: Classical Rewind
2013
TV Movie
Himself
¡Atención obras!
2013
TV Series
Himself
BBC Proms
2013
TV Series
Himself - Violinist
Michael Feinstein's American Songbook
2013
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Orchestra of Exiles
2012
Documentary
Himself
From Dust to Dreams: Opening Night at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts