Joshua Bell is among the most celebrated violinists of his era, renowned for his passion, restless curiosity and multi-faceted musical interests. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, or orchestra leader, Bell was named the Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in 2011, becoming the first person to hold this post since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958.  An exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell has recorded more than 40 CDs—garnering Grammy, Mercury, Gramophone and Echo Klassik awards—since his first LP recording at age 18 (on Decca). Bell received his first violin at age four and at twelve began studying with Josef Gingold at Indiana University. At fourteen he performed with Riccardo Muti and the Philhadelphia Orchestra and at seventeen made his Carnegie Hall debut. Perhaps the event that helped most to transform his reputation from “musician’s musician” to becoming a household name was his incognito performance in a Washington, DC subway station in 2007. Ever adventurous, Bell had agreed to participate in the Washington Post story by Gene Weingarten, which thoughtfully examined art and context. The story earned Weingarten a Pulitzer Prize and sparked an international firestorm of discussion. Bell is an alumnus of the Aspen Music Festival.