::PERSONNEL:: 
:::: Brian Bell, Assistant Conductor ::::
Brian Bell has lived in the Neponset Valley area for over 20 years. He studied conducting at the Eastman School of Music with David Effron and the New England Conservatory with Carl St. Clair.
Brian was a professional horn player for two decades, performing with the Boston Philharmonic, the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony, Nashua Symphony, the Cape Cod Symphony, the Portland Symphony and many other ensembles. He made several commercial recordings notably with the Boston Philharmonic, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. Brian has performed with many notable soloists including Claudio Arrau, Beverly Sills, Yo-Yo Ma, Nathan Milstein and Ella Fitzgerald. The conductors he has performed under have included Frederick Fennell, Gerard Schwarz, and Gunther Schuller. He has appeared as a narrator with the Boston Pops (doing “Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus”) with Keith Lockhart conducting.
Brian is probably best known in the area for his work with WGBH Radio’s live Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts. In that capacity he has done hundreds of interviews, including conductors James Levine, John Williams, Bernard Haitink and Sir Simon Rattle, and written and narrated features on many of the major orchestral works, which can be heard on bso.org.