L'Esperance Mandolin Ensemble

Joshua Bell, musical director of l'Esperance, began his musical life as an absolutely dreadful french horn player and didn't really discover that there was any hope for a successful musical experience until he began playing mandolin in the early 1970s. A member of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra since its founding in 1971, he was named concertmaster of the orchestra in 1982. In addition to the Providence Mandolin Orchestra, he currently performs with Pandora, specializing in chamber works for mandolins and guitar and the Outhouse Shouters, a traditional American string band.

He has been a featured performer with the North American Ensemble in Washington, DC, the Takoma Mandoleers in Virginia, the Valleyview Mandolin Ensemble in Maine, the American Guitar and Mandolin Orchestra and the Classical Mandolin Society of America.

Now an active teacher with students across Southern New England, he focuses on providing musical opportunity to people of all ages and musical backgrounds. The mandolin is an opportunity instrument. Anyone with modest dexterity and reasonable time for practice can develop their unique musical gifts, join with other mandolinists and experience the unique pleasure of making music with other people.