Steve Bell | Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller

Steve Honoured in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly

Steve — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:55:22 +0000

Steve, Erna and Dave

On Tuesday, May 7, Steve and his manager Dave were invited to the Manitoba Legislative Building where, before the assembly, Erna Braun (MLA for Rossmere) warmly read the following Member’s Statement honouring Steve’s work over the past several decades.

Many thanks to Ms. Braun for recognizing Steve’s work and bringing it before the Government of Manitoba:

Steve Bell
Erna Braun, MLA for Rossemere
May 7, 2013

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and to congratulate a talented local musician, Steve Bell. Steve Bell is a faith-based singer-songwriter whose work has received critical acclaim across the world. This April, Steve was recognized by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s prestigious Golden Baton Award for his outstanding contribution to the musical life of Winnipeg.

A musician, poet and storyteller, Steve grew up in a closely knit family that nurtured his creative side. When Steve’s father was a prison chaplain at Drumheller Penitentiary in Alberta, it was the federal prisoners who taught Steve to play the guitar. He credits this experience for his success, “I now perform world-over because some of Canada’s most unwanted men invested in me when I was a boy.”

Steve’s family relocated to Manitoba and it was here in Winnipeg that Steve began to work as a musician full time. He is well known and well regarded throughout our music community.

Steve’s music is a reflection of his own personal jouney and his honest stories resonate with vast audiences. His 17 albums have sold over 300,000 copies and he has performed more than 1,500 concerts across the world.

Talent, passion and dedication have led him to win many accolades including two JUNOs, multiple Prairie Music, Western Canada Music and Covenant Awards as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

For Steve, family is very important. Steve and his wife Nanci have three grown children, Sarah, Jesse, Micah and a foster daughter, Kendara. Steve has also been an advocate and fundraiser for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, World Vision and Compassion Canada.

Mr. Speaker, Steve Bell is an inspirational musician whose compelling performance and thoughtful music helps to bring people together. He joins us today in the gallery and I ask all members present to join me in congratulating Steve on all his outstanding achievements and to wish him and his family continued success.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Erna Braun, MLA for Rossmere

Steve Bell at West End Cultural Centre on September 26th

Faye — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:21:44 +0000

ADVANCE TICKETS $20 (plus $1 convenience fee)

Tickets purchased online for this concert will be held at the door for you to pick up starting at 7:15 pm.

Steve Bell at Chorus Church – Murrietta, CA on June 28th

Faye — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:16:05 +0000

ADVANCE TICKETS $15 (plus $1 convenience fee)

Tickets purchased online for this concert will be held at the door for you to pick up starting at 6:00 pm.

Tickets also available at:

Choruschurch.com or the church office at 951-566-0920

Steve Bell Nominated for Two Awards at the 2013 Word Awards Gala

Steve — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:21:57 +0000

Steve’s work has made the shortlist of finalists in 2 categories for the 2013 Word Awards sponsored by the Canadian Word Guild:

Article (Inspirational/Devotional): Steve Bell / ”The Shape of Things to Come” (Faith Today Magazine / Fall 2013)
Song Lyric: Steve Bell / “Oracles” (Signpost Music)

The awards are given out each year by the Word Guild to “encourage Christian Writers in the pursuit of excellence in the art, craft, practice, and ministry of writing.”

The Awards Gala will be held June 12, 2013 in Toronto at World Vision. Info and tickets available here…

Signpost Music is greatful for the recognition of Steve’s work, and we heartily congratulate all the award finalists.

Read article at: Faith Today Magazine

Listen to song below:

ORACLES
music and lyric by Steve Bell
lyrics adapted from the Four Advent Oracles of Isaiah:
2:1-5, 7:10-16, 11:1-10, 35:1-10

O ancient seer your vision told
Of desert highways streaming home
To the mountain of the Lord
Where nations sound a righteous song forever more

And on that mountain men will forge
From cuel implements of war
The tools to till and garden soil
The rose will bloom and faces shine with gladening oil

And it will surely come to pass
Justice will reign on earth at last
The wolf will lie down with the lamb
No beast destroy, no serpant strike the child’s hand

An God himself will choose the sign
A frightened woman in her time
Will bear a son and name him well
God with us! Oh come, oh come Emmanuel

Steve Bell at Altadore Baptist Church on June 2nd

Faye — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:46:00 +0000

ADVANCE TICKETS $20 (plus $1 convenience fee & GST)

Tickets purchased online for this concert will be held at the door for you to pick up starting at 6:30 pm.

Tickets also available at:

Altadore Baptist Church: 403-243-4304, 4304 16 Street SW

A Fundraising Concert for Well-Come Change, for providing potable water in sub-Saharan Africa

Steve Bell at Eaglemont Christian Church on May 31st

Faye — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:40:28 +0000

ADVANCE TICKETS $20 (plus $1 convenience fee & GST)

Tickets purchased online for this concert will be held at the door for you to pick up starting at 6 pm.

Tickets also available at:

Academié SAINT-ANDRÉ Academy – 780-929-2961, 5701 Magasin Ave., Beaumont

Eaglemont Christian Church – 780-929-5111, 5002 – 62 St., Beaumont

Net Proceeds to Support the SAINT- ANDRÉ Playground Project

Steve Bell and Malcolm Guite Slated for CS Lewis Conference/ San Diego June 21-23, 2013

Steve — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:44:41 +0000

Malcolm and Steve / Cambridge 2011

Singer/songwriter Steve Bell, and poet Malcolm Guite will be meeting again this summer at the CS Lewis Summer Conference in San Diego, June 21-23.

Among other contributions, the two will together present an evening where they will share from their individual and collaborative efforts.

Malcolm and Steve initially met at the 2011 C.S. Lewis Summer Institute in Oxford and Cambridge (Oxbridge). Steve was so taken by Malcolm’s poetry that he soon after began adapting the poetry for songs which became the basis for his 2012 CD Release Keening for the Dawn.

Taking advantage of this summer’s reunion, Steve and Malcolm will afterward retreat for a few days to collaborate on new material for a future project.

For those interested in taking in this summer’s conference, or the C.S. Lewis Foundation behind the event see: CS Lewis Summer Conference…

Additional conference contributors (authors, novelists, artists etc) include Peter Kreeft, James Como, Paul Ford, Anthony Lawton, Andrew Lazo, Diana Pavlac Glyer, and Richard Platt. See link for details of each: Speakers and Artists…

Below is an example of their collaborations. The spoken word you’ll hear in the middle of the song is Malcolm’s voice. It’s always nice to hear a poem in it’s author’s own voice…

DESCENT
lyric Malcolm Guite music Steve Bell

They sought to soar into the skies
Those classic gods of high renown
For lofty pride aspires to rise
But you came down.

You dropped down from the mountains sheer
Forsook the eagle for the dove
The other Gods demanded fear
But you gave love

Where chiseled marble seemed to freeze
Their abstract and perfected form
Compassion brought you to your knees
Your blood was warm

They called for blood in sacrifice
Their victims on an altar bled
When no one else could pay the price
You died instead

They towered above our mortal plain,
Dismissed this restless flesh with scorn,
Aloof from birth and death and pain,
But you were born.

Born to these burdens, borne by all
Born with us all ‘astride the grave’
Weak, to be with us when we fall,
And strong to save.

Malcolm – on the poem that became the song:

“Milton wrote an Ode on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity, which no one can hope to emulate, but in the following poem I have followed his lead in drawing a contrast between the various gods of the Classical world and the full and astonishing revelation of God’s love in the manger at Bethlehem. This was originally a short three verse poem, but at the behest of Steve Bell I have re-written it so that it is now also a song, with a tune of his composing on his new Album Keening for the Dawn. I have written about our collaboration here.”

reprinted from Malcolm’s Blog

WSO to Award Steve Bell with Golden Baton Award

Faye — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:57:20 +0000

On April 25th, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra will be awarding Steve with the 2013 Golden Baton Award; an honour he will then share with the likes of operatic soprano Tracy Dahl and violinist James Ennes. (See article in the Winnipeg Free Press…)

“I think what I feel the most deeply with this award is my happy participation in a community of communities that’s made it all happen,” says Steve referring to the support of his musical team, his financial backers and his fans.

“Whatever has been good and noteworthy about my work has the quality of a symphony to it, with a coming together of separate goods that have made for something special. I’m so very pleased just to be part of it.”

Trudy Shroeder, WSO executive director explains,”We recognize him for his skill, his musicality, for his connection with the symphony, and for his openness as well.”

The award will be given on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the WSO’s anual Spring Gala and Awards Evening at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, which will be honouring the Richardson Foundation as well.

Information and tickets to the event can be found HERE…

Steve Bell Awarded Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal

Faye — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:55:47 +0000

On Dec. 1, 2012, Conservative Member Of Parliament Joy Smith attended one of Steve’s concerts to award him the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

This commemorative medal serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.

In his characteristically humorous way, Steve’s first response was to stroke it greedily and croak, “my precious.”

He then gave thanks to the many, many people who have given of themselves and their resources to enable his work to flourish; notably, his wife Nanci. But he made it clear that he shared the award with his long-time manager Dave Zeglinski.

Steve Bell at St. Anne’s Anglican Church on May 23rd

Faye — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:59:41 +0000

ADVANCE TICKETS $15 (plus $1 convenience fee)

Tickets purchased online for this concert will be held at the door for you to pick up starting at 6:00 pm.

Tickets also available at:
St. Anne’s Anglican Church: 204-334-6753, 253 Burrin Ave., Winnipeg

PS: St. Anne’s address is correct. It may appear as “St. Anthony’s” on Google map.

Steve Bell | Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller

Steve Honoured in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly

Steve Bell at West End Cultural Centre on September 26th

Related show info

Steve Bell at Chorus Church – Murrietta, CA on June 28th

Related show info

Steve Bell Nominated for Two Awards at the 2013 Word Awards Gala

Steve Bell at Altadore Baptist Church on June 2nd

Related show info

Steve Bell at Eaglemont Christian Church on May 31st

Related show info

Steve Bell and Malcolm Guite Slated for CS Lewis Conference/ San Diego June 21-23, 2013

WSO to Award Steve Bell with Golden Baton Award

Steve Bell Awarded Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal

Steve Bell at St. Anne’s Anglican Church on May 23rd

Related show info