03.05.23 02:43 PMClick

Birth name Miri Ben-Ari

Also known as

The Hip Hop Violinist

Born December 4, 1971 ) (age 38)

Origin Ramat Gan, Israel

Genres Hip hop, R&B, jazz, classical

Years active 1999–present

Labels Universal

Associated acts

Wyclef Jean, Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Tarkan, Subliminal, Don Omar

who currently resides in the United States

Miri Ben-Ari was born to a Jewish father and a Jewish mother of Polish descent[1], in Ramat Gan, Israel. She studied violin under Isaac Stern

Ben-Ari was featured by Reebok in their “I Am What I Am” global print and TV advertising campaign. She has done commercials for Pepsi and Coca-Cola and has been the

voice of VH1 Save The Music, which promotes live music and music education across the US. She recently appeared in a Jimi

Hendrix PSA for BET as a part of black history month.

She has contributed to songs by other artists such as Kanye West,

Twista, Jay-Z, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keys, Wynton Marsalis,

Don Omar, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, Patti Labelle, Aventura,

Brandy, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson, Thalía and

John Legend

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. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Garth Brooks and Santana.

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

Ben-Ari was one of Jewish Women International’s "Ten Women To Watch of 2007” and she won the JVIBE award as Best Israeli Artist of 2007. In addition she received the first Israeli Martin Luther King Award from Israel President, Shimon Peres, and the "Eternal Flame Award" from the American Society of Yad Vashem for her work as a feature violinist and music score writer for Paramount's Freedom Writers.

Ben-Ari is co-founder and CEO of the non-profit organization “Gedenk” ("Remember") dedicated to promoting awareness among young people about the Holocaust. She recently received the Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Federation "for her inspiring leadership in creating the Gedenk project.