Purdue News

March 12, 1999 Violinist Joshua Bell returns to Purdue on April 7 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Indiana-born violinist Joshua Bell returns to Purdue University at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, in Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. Part of the Loeb Music Collection presented by Purdue Convocations, this concert is made possible in part by the support of Insight Communications. Bell, who last performed at Purdue in 1989, came to national attention at age 14 as the winner of the Seventeen Magazine/General Motors Competition. He made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra that same year, which was followed by a Carnegie Hall debut, an Avery Fisher Career Grant and an exclusive recording contract. Now at age 30, Bell has successfully bridged the gap from child prodigy to mature artist. "At the fiendishly difficult task of mastering the violin, Joshua Bell is that most mysterious of creatures -- a natural," said New York Magazine. Born in Bloomington, Ind., Bell received his first violin at age 5 and became seriously committed to the instrument by age 12 when he met renowned violinist and pedagogue Josef Gingold, who became his teacher and mentor. Since that time his classical and popular credentials have been racking up. He has been prolific in the recording studio and played with the world's leading symphony orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra of London, and London Symphony as well as major orchestras all over Europe and Asia. He has been featured on the "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, CNN, "CBS This Morning," CNBC, and a 1993 "Live From Lincoln Center" broadcast on PBS as well as in numerous print publications. Bell plays about 100 concerts a year, and most recently he has been involved in two recording projects, a film score for "The Red Violin," directed by Francois Girard, and a Gershwin recording, with composer/conductor John Williams, called "Gershwin Fantasy" on the Sony Classical label. He also recently has recorded a concerto written for him by Nicholas Maw as well as the concertos of Sibelius and Goldmark. A variety of chamber projects have made their way onto his schedule as well. The April 7 concert will feature Schubert's Sonatina in D Major, Beethoven's Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Gershwin's Three Preludes(translated by Heifetz), three short pieces by Bartok -- plus a surprise or two from the stage. Pianist Simon Mulligan will accompany Bell. Tickets are $23 for the public, $13 for Purdue students, at campus box offices. Charge by phone at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. CONTACT: Sue Stevens, Convocations publicist, (765) 494-9712; snstevens@convos.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page