Happy Birthday, Violinist Joshua Bell!

Bell currently serves as Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and performs regularly with many of the world's eminent orchestras and conductors

Today is American violin virtuoso Joshua Bell's 57th birthday!

At the age of 14, Bell debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra with Riccardo Muti, and made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 17 with the St. Louis Symphony. A student of legendary Russian pedagogue Josef Gingold, Bell signed with his first label, London Decca, at the age of 18, and received the highly acclaimed Avery Fisher Career Grant.

As an exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell continues engagements as soloist, recital, chamber musician, and conductor. He has recorded more than 40 albums, garnering Grammy, Mercury, Gramaphone, and Opus Klassik awards.

Bell currently serves as Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, with whom their 2013 album of Beethoven's Fourth and Seventh Symphonies debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Bell has been named 2010 “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Musical America, a 2007 “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, nominated for six GRAMMY® awards, and received the 2007 Avery Fisher Prize. He has also received the 2003 Indiana Governor’s Arts Award and a Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1991 from the Jacobs School of Music.

A star of natural charisma, Bell has also appeared as a guest three times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and was featured on six Live from Lincoln Center specials.

He currently concertizes on the 1713 Gibson ex-Huberman Stradivarius.

JOSHUA BELL & ALESSIO BAX | WIENIAWSKI | POLONAISE NO. 1 IN D MAJOR | VANGUARD CONCERTS SERIES