Violinist Joshua Bell has has his contract as music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields extended through August of 2028.

Bell called it an honour to have be renewed during the centenary celebration of Sir Neville Marriner, the man who created the Academy and helped launch Bell’s recording career.

The 56-year old American became music director of ASMF in 2011, after first working with Sir Neville and the Academy as a 19-year old soloist.