Miri Ben-Ari

Miri Ben-Ari ( ) (born December 4, 1978 in Israel ) is an Israeli violinist , who currently resides in the United States . Miri Ben-Ari, a Grammy Award-Winning violinist originally from Israel, has created her own unique sound by a revolutionary fusion of classical style with jazz, R&B and hip hop. She has been recognized as a musical pioneer. This classically trained musician has helped sell millions of records by collaborating with other Grammy award-winning artists such as Kanye West, Jay Z, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keys, Wynton Marsalis, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, Patti Labelle, Brandy, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson and John Legend. She studied under the late classical master Isaac Stern and has earned the honor from New York's Apollo Theater as an “Apollo Legend”. She is also known as “The Hip Hop Violinist”, the title of her latest album (Universal Records). Miri was featured by Reebok in their “I Am What I Am” global print and TV advertising campaign. She has done commercials for Pepsi, Coca-Cola, a Jimmy Hendrix PSA for BET and has been the voice of VH1 Save The Music, which promotes live music and music education across the US. She has appeared on Sesame Street, is featured in the live performance album and DVD of Aventura’s “Sold Out at Madison Square Garden” concert, has performed for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, at Lincoln Center for “VH1 Save The music Gala”, and at Radio City Hall's "Fashion Rocks" concert and at its “Dream Concert”, a dream team program of artists which included Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Usher, John Mayer, Mary J. Her single "Symphony of Brotherhood", featuring the Dream speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, is the first instrumental single ever to hit on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop charts, MTV and VH1. Miri Ben-Ari was honored as an "International Jewish Women To Watch of 2007”, she received the 2008 Israel Film Festival Visionary Award and she is the first Israeli to receive the Martin Luther King Award from Israeli President, Shimon Peres. She is the CEO and co-founder of “Gedenk” ("Remember"), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness among young people about the Jewish Holocaust.¹