Joshua Bell named New Jersey Symphony principal guest conductor, beginning in 2025–26 season

Photo Credit: Grace Liu Anderson

Newark, NJ (October 10, 2024) - New Jersey Symphony has announced that beginning in the 2025–26 season, Joshua Bell will serve as the Symphony’s inaugural principal guest conductor through the 2028–29 season.

Bell has had a long and fruitful relationship with the Symphony over the last three decades and appeared as soloist in the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in the 2022–23 season. In the fall of 2023, Joshua led the New Jersey Symphony as soloist and conductor for the first time, in works of Beethoven and Mendelssohn—a collaborative musical week for both Bell and the orchestra's musicians that sparked the idea for this continued partnership.

Bell said of his new role, “I first played with New Jersey Symphony more than three decades ago, and they have held a special place in my heart ever since. My most recent appearance with the Symphony was particularly meaningful to me, as I had the privilege of playing and conducting on the program. I am thrilled to be continuing in this role as principal guest conductor for several seasons to come. I can’t wait to share the stage with my New Jersey Symphony friends in the 2025–26 season!”

Bell will appear on one program weekend each season. In addition, Bell and the Symphony are also exploring potential additional collaborations as part of the principal guest conductor role, which will be announced at a later date.