By Laurie Niles: Violinist Joshua Bell accepted the Dushkin Award from the Music Institute of Chicago on Wednesday, in a gala celebrating the 86th year of the institute.![Bell, Gingold, George]()
Joshua Bell with George Gingold and Music Institute of Chicago President and CEO Mark George. Photo by Robert Carl.
The Music Institute of Chicago is the oldest community music school in Illinois and one of the three largest community music schools in the nation, offering lessons and classes to thousands of students of all ages across the greater Chicago area.
The Dushkin Award, established 30 years ago, was named for the institutes founders Dorothy and David Dushkin. Past winners include André Previn, Lang Lang, Stephen Sondheim, Riccardo Muti, Yo-Yo Ma, Leon Fleisher, Renée Fleming, Placido Domingo, Isaac Stern, Sir Georg Solti, Pierre Boulez and more.
Bell, who is music director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and is in high demand as a soloist, was recognized for both his artistry and his contributions to music education. As an advocate for the art, Bell has performed for three U.S. Presidents as well as the President of China and devoted himself to several charitable causes, most notably Education Through Music, which has helped put instruments in the hands of thousands of kids in Americas inner cities.
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Joshua Bell with George Gingold and Music Institute of Chicago President and CEO Mark George. Photo by Robert Carl.