Violinist Joshua Bell Awarded Honorary CBE by King Charles

October 14, 2025, 2:49 PM · This week American violinist Joshua Bell was formally named as an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, the the highest-ranking level of the Order of the British Empire, excluding knighthood.

Violinist Joshua Bell, CBE. Photo courtesy Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

The prestigious honor was conferred by King Charles III of England, on the advice of the U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Honorary CBEs are awarded to foreign nationals who have made a distinguished and innovative contribution to their field in the U.K.

Bell has served as Music Director of the London-based Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) since 2011, with his position recently renewed through the 2027-28 season.

"This is a profound and wholly unexpected honor," Bell said in a statement. "Leading the Academy of St Martin in the Fields for nearly 15 years has been one of the great privileges of my career. This extraordinary orchestra has always made me — an American from Indiana — feel at home in a country so rich in history and tradition. To be recognized now as a CBE deepens the sense of kinship I feel with both my orchestra and the United Kingdom."

"I could not be more grateful for this distinction, which stands as a testament to the many years of music-making I’ve been fortunate to share with these remarkable musicians," he said.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Bell began playing the violin at age four. He began studying with Josef Gingold at age 12, and at age 14, Bell debuted with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, then making his Carnegie Hall debut at age 17 with the St. Louis Symphony. Since then he has established himself as a leading international concert violinist as well as conductor.

"In the years since Joshua officially joined the ASMF family, his leadership has elevated our understanding of orchestral playing, our abilities as a collective ensemble and our international standing to new heights," said ASMF clarinetist and trustee Tom Lessel.

During the 2025-26 season, Bell is scheduled to lead ASMF on extensive tours in both Europe and the U.S., including a performance at London’s Cadogan Hall (Jan 20) and New York’s Carnegie Hall (March 5). Both tours will feature Schumann’s "Spring" Symphony and Brahms’s Violin Concerto, with Bell leading the orchestra from the first violin chair in the former and serving as soloist for the latter.

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Violinist Joshua Bell Awarded Honorary CBE by King Charles

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