Yo-Yo Ma (b. 1955)

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Biography

Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist. Born to Chinese parents in Paris, he was regarded as a child prodigy, and began to study the cello with his father at age four. Ma moved with his family to Boston at age seven and later to New York City, where he continued his cello studies at the Juilliard School before pursuing a liberal arts education at Harvard University. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras around the world, recorded more than 92 albums, and received 20 Grammy Awards.

Timeline

The story of Yo-Yo Ma, told in moments.

1962 Event

Performs for Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy at age seven. At eight, he appears on American television introduced by Leonard Bernstein. By the time most children are learning multiplication tables, he's playing Bach suites for heads of state.

Performing for two presidents at seven. Was that childhood or work? Did you ever resent the cello?

1978 Event

Wins the Avery Fisher Prize. He's studied at Juilliard and Harvard, choosing a liberal arts education over pure conservatory training. The decision shapes his career. He doesn't just play classical repertoire. He collaborates with bluegrass musicians, tango composers, Chinese folk artists, Bobby McFerrin, and Sting.

Harvard over a full music career at 18. Was that rebellion? Was technical mastery ever the point for you?

1999 Event

Founds the Silk Road Ensemble, bringing together musicians from the countries along the ancient Silk Road trading routes. The project runs for over two decades. His primary instrument is a Stradivarius cello from 1712 called the Davidov. He once left it in a taxi. Got it back.

The Silk Road Ensemble. Was that diplomacy through music? Did the ensemble teach you something the cello couldn t?

2011 Life

20 Grammy Awards. 92 albums. United Nations Messenger of Peace. Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's played at inaugurations, memorials, and street corners during the pandemic. The boy from Paris with the 1/16th cello has become the most recognized classical musician alive.

20 Grammys, 92 albums. Which role fits best? Does recognition change the music?

In Their Own Words (1)

I figured out that my passion is not really for music. My passion is actually for people. So the exploration into different musics of different times has to do with trying to figure out who these people are, what this music represents and what context do we want to give it and what does it mean to us right now.

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Yo-Yo Ma

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Biography

Timeline

In Their Own Words (1)

Artifacts (15)

Zetsu 4-a

Zetsu 4-c

Portrait and biographical album of Huron county (IA portraitbiograph00chi)

Goya as portrait painter (IA goyaasportraitpa00beru 0)

Lady Good-for-nothing; a man's portrait of a woman (IA cu31924013537950)

Goya as portrait painter (IA cu31924015072949)

Elfie's visit to Cloudland and the moon; or, The tricks of E-ma-ji-na-shun (IA elfiesvisittoclo00aust)

1133. Frederick Dielman -v- R.H. White Co., USCC-MA, Oct 1900 Equity (IA 1133frederickdie00usci)

The works of Lord Bacon. With an introductory essay, and a portrait (IA bub gb 25hJAQAAMAAJ)

A portrait of the Rev. Thomas Taylor, or, The hypocrite unmasked (microform) (IA cihm 64147)

Yo-Yo Ma et la route de la soie

Anniversary Christoph Eschenbach

Yo-Yo Ma/Kathryn Stott

Yo Yo Ma, violoncel