Bloomington's Joshua Bell returns home, directing Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

One reason to take pride in Bloomington is Joshua Bell. It's his hometown, and as one of the world's most celebrated violinist, he's returning, for the first time directing the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in a local performance. See one of the world's best chamber orchestras directed by Bell on March 26 at the Indiana University Auditorium.

Bell, as music director, guides the orchestra and is ensuring it keeps its collegiate spirit and malleability that it once had as a small group, with no conductor. Under Bell's guidance, and with the support of leader and director Tomo Keller and principal guest conductor Murray Perahia, the ensemble keeps expanding the capabilities of "player-directed" (Bell also plays) performances. They do both symphonic and chamber music in esteemed venues throughout the world.

The best seats are selling out, so get your tickets soon.

Joshua Bell's beginnings

"I grew up listening to the Academy of St Martin in the Fields countless times on my local classical radio station, WFIU," Bell said in an email. "As fate would have it, I would be given the opportunity to make my first-ever commercial recording with this revered orchestra under the direction of Sir Neville Marriner in 1986."

In 1958 Sir Neville Marriner (1924-2016) founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

When Bell received the invitation to do that first recording, it happened to be the week of his 19th birthday, and he was a student of Josef Gingold, IU's legendary pedagogue.

"I couldn't have imagined then that 25 years later, in 2011, I would be appointed successor to Sir Neville as music director, one of the greatest honors of my musical life," Bell said.

"It is with immense pride and joy that I return to Bloomington and IU, the place that fostered my musical education, to perform with the ASMF for the very first time, in front of so many people I grew up with, including my mother and two of my sisters. Although Mr. Gingold is no longer with us, my mentor's presence will surely be felt."

The Grammy Award-winning Bell has performed with almost every highly ranked orchestra in the world and is one of his era's most acclaimed musicians.

In Bloomington, Bell began playing the violin at age 4, and at 12, he started studying with mentor Josef Gingold. At 14, Bell debuted with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra and debuted at Carnegie Hall at 17 with the St. Louis Symphony. At 18, Bell signed with his first label and won the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Bell has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, was named Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America, was deemed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and earned the Avery Fisher Prize.

In addition, he has won the 2003 Indiana Governor’s Arts Award and a Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 1991 from IU's Jacobs School of Music. In 2000, he was named an Indiana Living Legend.

Three American presidents have been entertained by Bell, as well as justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. He participated in former President Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities’ first cultural mission to Cuba, joining Cuban and American musicians on an Emmy-nominated PBS Live from Lincoln Center special, "Joshua Bell: Seasons of Cuba," celebrating reopened cultural diplomacy between the U.S. and Cuba.

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Through live performances and many recordings — including the 1969 best-seller Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons" and the soundtrack to the Oscar-taking film "Amadeus" — the London-based orchestra achieved an international reputation for its refined yet distinctive sound. With more than 500 releases in a discography and its global touring program, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields' sound and name are known by classical musicians and audiences everywhere.

Tuesday's program at IU Auditorium

The March 26 program includes Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro," K.492: Overture, Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 and Schumann's Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61.

Bell will perform on all pieces.

An earlier return of Joshua Bell Music reviews: Joshua Bell puts on an exhibition; Undergraduate Opera Workshop

If you go

WHAT: The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, led by music director and Bloomington native Joshua Bell, who will perform as well

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26

WHERE: Indiana University Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St.

TICKETS: Start at $34 for students and $49 for others. Best seats are selling out. Go online to https://am.ticketmaster.com/iuarts/buy.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Joshua Bell directs Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in hometown