Joshua Bell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joshua Bell
Bell in 2010
Background information
Born	(1967-12-09) December 9, 1967 (age 57) Bloomington, Indiana, US
Genres	Classical
Occupation(s)	Violinist, conductor
Years active	1980s–present

Joshua David Bell (born December 9, 1967) is a famous American violinist and conductor. He is known for his amazing talent with the violin. Currently, he is the music director for the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, a well-known orchestra.

Early Life and Learning

Joshua Bell was born in Bloomington, Indiana. When he was just four years old, his mother noticed something special. He was taking rubber bands and stretching them across his dresser drawers. Then, he would pluck them to play tunes he had heard on the piano!

His parents saw his interest and got him a small violin when he was five. He started taking lessons right away. Even though he loved the violin, Joshua also had a normal childhood. He enjoyed playing video games and was very good at sports like tennis and bowling. He even placed in a national tennis tournament when he was ten!

Joshua had several violin teachers. One of his most important teachers was Josef Gingold. By the time Joshua was 12, he was very serious about playing the violin, thanks to Gingold's inspiration.

When he was 14, Joshua performed as a solo musician with the famous Philadelphia Orchestra. He continued to study violin at Indiana University and graduated from high school in 1984. Indiana University later honored him for his achievements. He has also been called an "Indiana Living Legend."

His Amazing Career

Joshua Bell made his big debut at Carnegie Hall in 1985 when he was 17. He played with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Since then, he has performed with many of the world's top orchestras and conductors. He plays both classic violin pieces and new music.

The Special Violin

Joshua Bell plays a very special violin called the Gibson ex Huberman. It's a Stradivarius violin, made in 1713. These violins are incredibly rare and valuable.

This particular violin has an interesting history. It was stolen twice from its previous owner, a violinist named Bronisław Huberman. The last time it was stolen, the thief confessed to it on his deathbed!

In 2001, Joshua Bell found out the violin was for sale. He had played it before and loved its sound. He ended up buying it for almost $4 million! He sold his old violin to help pay for it. A documentary film called The Return of the Violin tells the story of this amazing instrument.

Working with Orchestras and Films

From 2004 to 2007, Joshua Bell was an artistic partner for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He also taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

In 2009, he played violin solos for the movie soundtrack of Angels & Demons. In May 2011, he became the music director for the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He has recorded many albums with them. His contract with the orchestra was extended in July 2017 and again in April 2024, showing how much they value his leadership.

Joshua Bell has also appeared in TV shows like Mozart in the Jungle and Julie's Greenroom, playing himself. In October 2024, the New Jersey Symphony announced he would become their new principal guest conductor starting in the 2025–2026 season.

The Washington Post Experiment

In 2007, Joshua Bell took part in a unique experiment. He dressed in a baseball cap and played his violin like a street musician in a subway station in Washington, D.C. This was part of an experiment by The Washington Post newspaper.

The experiment was filmed with hidden cameras. Out of over 1,000 people who walked by, only seven stopped to listen to him. Only one person recognized him! In nearly 45 minutes, he collected only $32.17. Just three days earlier, he had earned much more playing the same music at a concert. This experiment showed how people might miss beauty in unexpected places. The article about this experiment won a famous award called the Pulitzer Prize.

Personal Life

Joshua Bell has three sons: Josef, and twins Benjamin and Samuel. In October 2019, he married opera singer Larisa Martinez. They live in New York.

Selected Music Albums

Joshua Bell has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:

Movie Soundtracks

Joshua Bell has also played solo violin for several movie soundtracks:

• Chasing Ice Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012)
• The Flowers of War Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012)
• Angels & Demons Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2009)
• Ladies in Lavender Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2005)
• The Red Violin (1998)

See also

In Spanish: Joshua Bell para niños