Violinist Joshua Bell Marries Opera Singer Larisa Martinez
Violinist Joshua Bell and opera singer Larisa Martinez were married on Saturday in a ceremony at their private residence in Mount Kisco, N.Y.
Newly married: Joshua Bell and Larisa Martinez. Photo by Elena Cherkashyna
Congratulations to them both!
The couple met on Dec. 30, 2011, backstage at the Blue Note jazz club in New York after a performance by their mutual friend, trumpeter Chris Botti, according to the New York Times. Six months later they were officially a couple. "On their seven-year anniversary, Bell proposed to Martinez in Chris Botti’s dressing room at the Blue Note," said the New York Times.
Martinez, 32, is an opera singer and frequent recital partner of Andrea Bocelli. She has performed at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center and Madison Square Garden and will make her Carnegie Hall debut October 10 with the Athens Philharmonic and New York Choral Society in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 2. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she is the daughter of Dr. Daniel Martínez, who specializes in emergency room medicine and Luisa Torres, who is an occupational nurse. Martinez studied at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico while earning a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. She holds a Master's degree from Mannes College the New School for Music.
Of course we know Bell, 51, as a superstar violinist, who performs as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and conductor -- not to mention that he was the incognito subway violinist featured in a 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post story, which later inspired a children's book. Since 2011 Bell has served as Music Director of the The Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Bell has made more than 40 recordings, winning numerous awards. He also serves on the board of the New York Philharmonic. Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Bell is a graduate of Indiana University, where he studied with Josef Gingold. Bell is the son of the late Alan Bell, who was senior staff psychologist at the Indiana University's Kinsey Institute for Sex Research. His mother, Shirley, is a retired mental health professional.
As a couple, Bell and Martinez have advocated for classical music education and are affiliated with Turnaround Arts, All Our Kids, Education Through Music, and the Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico.
You might also like:
- Joshua Bell: 'The Man With the Violin' Children's Book
- Review: Joshua Bell Performs Bernstein 'Serenade' with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
- Violinist.com interview with Joshua Bell (2008)
Replies
Great photo: Which lovely bride is held more closely?
First thing she tells him: No more playing in the subway, Mister! :-) Best wishes to them both.
Joshua B. will discover that they don't make practice mutes for singers.
Congratulations and best wishes to a beautiful couple.
So happy for the couple! We love our Hoosier violinist and wish him the best in his life!
I am former student of Rostislav Dubinsky.(From Moscow).
Many years ago, (forty),when i had invitation from Bloomington, Rostislav D. told me about Joshua: " HE is FANTASTIC BOY"!!!
And now i am Happy with NEWS!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
WONDERFULLY COUPLE!!
THE BEST WISHES TO THEM BOTH!!!
VIOLIN PROF. Irina Svetlova
Congratulations
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Violinist.com is made possible by...
Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases
Laurie's Books
Discover the best of Violinist.com in these collections of editor Laurie Niles' exclusive interviews.
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1, with introduction by Hilary Hahn
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2, with introduction by Rachel Barton Pine
October 7, 2019 at 04:58 AM · CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a beautiful union of Voice and Violin, Perfect Harmony!
X. Pelletier & D. Shambley
Dallas Symphony Orchestra