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A native of Toronto, I earned a B. Mus degree from the University of Toronto and received my Masters and Doctor of Music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. I have studied with David Zafer, Joyce Robbins, Metro Kozak, and with members of the Juilliard, and Orion string quartets. I am a prize winner of the Eckhardt-Grammatté National competition, as well as the Conseil Québécois’ Prix Opus and the Ontario Arts Council’s Chalmers Award.
Joining the Penderecki String Quartet in 1999, I have performed extensively around the world at venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, State Museum of Music in St. Petersburg, Disney Centre in Los Angeles, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre. Described by the Toronto Star as a violinist who “agitates in the most intelligent and persuasive manner”, I have recorded over 25 discs including the complete Bartok quartets and was awarded the JUNO for Marjan Mozetich’s “Lament in the Trampled Garden”. I have performed a wide range of music including baroque with Consortium Aurora Borealis, Brazilian jazz with Egberto Gismonti, as well as collaborating with pipa virtuoso Ching Wong, and NYC’s DJ Spooky. In addition, I have performed as soloist with many orchestras in Canada, USA and Mexico, including the Toronto Symphony, the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra.
I teach violin and chamber music at Wilfrid Laurier University and am the new artistic director of QuartetFest and the Leith Summer Festival. I have also been on faculty at the Festival del Lago International Academy of Music since 2018.
- Prize winner of the Eckhardt‑Grammatté National competition and the Conseil Québécois’ Prix Opus.
- Artistic director (2000-2007) of NUMUS Concerts where he created several multi-media events at the Perimeter Institute and with Dancetheatre David Earle.
- He has performed a wide range of music, performing baroque with Consortium Aurora Borealis and Les Violons du Roy, Cuban jazz with Hilario Duran, as well as collaborating with pipa virtuoso Ching Wong, NYC’s DJ Spooky and rap star Jay-Z.
- As guest concertmaster, he has appeared with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Hamilton Philharmonic, the New Zealand National Symphony and the Canadian Opera Company.
- Edvard Grieg, Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano, Chestnut Hall Records 2014.
- Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartets Op.132 and 135, Marquis Classics 2013.
- Bela Bartok, Complete String Quartets, Eclectra Records 2006.
My teaching is Galamian-based, and I emphasize slow scale practise as a chance to undo the tensions that get built up from the desire to succeed. I also teach a number of dexterity and muscle building exercises largely attributed to D.C. Dounis. I aim to get right to the heart of the matter in lessons and help students find 'deliberate practise' in their work.
Contact Info:
Languages spoken: English
Personal website:
www.jeremybell.ca