Miri Ben-Ari

Miri Ben-Ari is a Grammy Award-winning violinist, record producer, music technology entrepreneur, and humanitarian recognized for her contributions to hip-hop, R&B, and classical music. An Israeli-American artist, Ben-Ari is the first violinist to win a Grammy Award in the hip-hop category. Classically trained and mentored by Isaac Stern, she initially pursued jazz before shifting her focus to R&B and hip-hop. Her collaborations span a range of Grammy Award-winning artists, including Jay-Z, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Twista, Wynton Marsalis, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, Akon, Patti LaBelle, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson, John Legend, Aventura, Fetty Wap, Diamond Platnumz, Kenny G, and Armin Van Buuren.

Ben-Ari's first hip-hop performance took place at Carnegie Hall with Wyclef Jean, marking a significant milestone in her career. She earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song as a co-writer of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks." Universal Music Group released her fourth CD, "The Hip-Hop Violinist," which emphasized her unique fusion of hip-hop and violin. Her work features in numerous commercial tracks across genres, including "Overnight Celebrity" by Twista, "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West, "Live It Up" by John Legend, "Intense" by Armin Van Buuren, and "Symphony of Brotherhood Rise" by Dr. King and Flo Rida. Ben-Ari's music production is present in more than 100 hit songs, and she has received multiple awards for her achievements.

Ben-Ari has been recognized internationally, receiving honors such as the Apollo Legend distinction from Apollo Theater, the Martin Luther King Award from Israeli President Shimon Peres, and the Big Vision Awards. Her single "Symphony of Brotherhood," featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, was the first instrumental single to chart on Billboard's R&B/Hip Hop charts, MTV, and VH1. She has performed at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama and was honored as a "Remarkable Woman." Additional accolades include the inaugural Girl Up Advocate Award from the United Nations Foundation and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Ben-Ari serves as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador of Music and is a TED speaker, delivering talks such as "How to Make the Violin Cool" and "4 Ways to Strive with Harmony." Her presentations address creativity, innovation, and the role of music in bridging societal divides. She also speaks to Fortune 500 companies on creative thinking and business inspiration. Ben-Ari launched the music group Afrostringz and was appointed to the New Jersey-Israel Commission by the governor of New Jersey.

"Symphony of Brotherhood" is an educational initiative founded by Ben-Ari that uses live performances, interactive technology, and discussions with leaders in music, business, and innovation to inspire high school students to explore creative career pathways and the intersection of music and technology. She also founded a music technology startup focused on enhancing audience engagement with music. Ben-Ari's performances at venues such as Madison Square Garden, the White House, and Apollo Theater reflect her ongoing efforts to connect genres, generations, and cultures through the violin.