Yo-Yo Ma: Difference between revisions

'''Yo-Yo Ma'''{{efn|{{Lang-zh|t=馬友友|s=马友友|p=Mǎ Yǒuyǒu|scase=yes}}}} (born October 7, 1955) is an American [[Cello|cellist]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/35-who-made-a-difference-yo-yo-ma-114867029/?no-ist|title=35 Who Made a Difference: Yo-Yo Ma|last=Kosman|first=Joshua|date=November 2005|magazine=Smithsonian Magazine|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> Born to and partially raised in [[Paris]] toby [[Chinese people|Chinese]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Biography (Text Only) {{!}} Yo-Yo Ma|url=https://www.yo-yoma.com/biography/|access-date=June 10, 2020|website=Yo-yoma.com}}</ref> parents in [[Paris]] and educated in [[New York City]], he was a [[child prodigy]], performing from the age of four and a half. HeMa graduated from the [[Juilliard School]] and [[Harvard University]], attended [[Columbia University]], and has performed as a soloist with orchestras around the worldworldwide. He has recorded more than 9092 albums and received 19 [[Grammy Awards]].

In addition to recordings of the standard [[Classical music|classical]] repertoire, Ma has recorded a wide variety of folk music, such as American [[bluegrass music]], traditional Chinese melodies, the [[tango|tangos]] of Argentine composer [[Astor Piazzolla]], and Brazilian music. HeMa has also collaborated with artists from a diverse range of genres, including [[Bobby McFerrin]], [[Carlos Santana]], [[Chris Botti]], [[Diana Krall]], [[James Taylor]], [[Miley Cyrus]], and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].

Ma has been a [[United Nations Messengers of Peace|United Nations Messenger of Peace]] since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://outreach.un.org/mop/yo-yo-ma/|title=Yo-Yo Ma|work=United Nations Messengers of Peace|publisher=United Nations|access-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918173449/http://outreach.un.org/mop/yo-yo-ma/|archive-date=September 18, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has received numerous awards, including the [[Avery Fisher Prize]] in 1978, [[The Glenn Gould Prize]] in 1999, the [[National Medal of Arts]] in 2001,<ref name="arts">[http://www.nea.gov/honors/medals/medalists_year.html National Medal of Arts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054307/http://www.nea.gov/honors/medals/medalists_year.html |date=July 21, 2011 }}, [[National Endowment for the Arts]].</ref> the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 2011, [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2011, the [[Polar Music Prize]] in 2012, and the [[Birgit Nilsson Prize]] in 2022.<ref name="Freedom">{{cite press release|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/17/president-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients|title=President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients|date=November 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126074451/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/17/president-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients|archive-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=live|location=Washington, D.C.|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]}}</ref> HeMa was named as one of [[Time 100|''Time''{{'}}s 100]] Most Influential People of 2020.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2020|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/|access-date=September 23, 2020|magazine=Time}}</ref>

Ma's mother, Marina Lu, was a singer, and his father, Hiao-Tsiun Ma, was a violinist, composer,<ref>{{Citecite book |lastauthor1=Marina Ma |firstauthor2=MarinaJohn A. Rallo |title=My Son, Yo-Yo |yearpublisher=2001[[The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press]] |location=Hong Kong |language=English |year=1995 |url=https://cup.cuhk.edu.hk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=198}}</ref> and professor of music at Nanjing [[National Central University]] (now relocated in [[Taoyuan, Taiwan|Taoyuan]], [[Taiwan]]; predecessor of the present-day [[Nanjing University]] and [[Southeast University]]). They both migrated from the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] to France during the [[Chinese Civil War]]. Ma's sister, Yeou-Cheng Ma, played the violin and piano professionally before obtaining a medical degree from Harvard and becoming a pediatrician.<ref name= "Pong">{{cite book | last=Pong | first=D. | chapter=Yo-Yo Ma | title= Encyclopedia of Modern China | publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons/Gale, Cengage Learning | year=2009 | isbn= 978-0-684-31566-9}}</ref> The family moved to New York City when Ma was seven.<ref name= "Journeys">{{cite journal|last1= Tassel|first1=Janet|title=Yo-Yo Ma's Journeys|journal=Harvard Magazine |date=March 2000|issue= March–April 2000 |url= http://harvardmagazine.com/2000/03/yo-yo-mas-journeys-html |access-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name= "Smithsonian">{{cite journal|last1= Covington|first1= Richard |title= Yo-Yo Ma's Other Passion |journal=Smithsonian Magazine|issue=June 2002|url= http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/yo-yo-mas-other-passion-63898487/?no-ist |access-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref>

From the age of three, Ma played the [[drums]], [[violin]], [[piano]], and later [[viola]], but settled on the cello in 1960 at age four. When three-year-old Yo-Yo said that he wanted a big instrument, his father went to see Etienne Vatelot, a foremost violin maker in Paris who, after a chat, lent him a 1/16th cello. HeMa jokes that his first choice was the [[double bass]] due to its large size, but heMa compromised and took up the cello instead. When Dr.his Mafather realized that Yo-Yo was ready for a better teacher, a well-known cello instructor, Mme Michelle Lepinte, was selected. HeMa began performing before audiences at age five and played for presidents [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[John F. Kennedy]] when he was seven.<ref>{{cite AV media notes | first=Mark | last=Salzman | others=Yo-Yo Ma | year=2001 | title=Classic Yo-Yo | url=http://www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/archive/2003-2004/perform/ma.asp | publisher=Sony | id=089667 | access-date=January 14, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204153205/http://www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/archive/2003-2004/perform/ma.asp | archive-date=February 4, 2008 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title =1|series = Faces of America|series-link = Faces of America (PBS series)|network = [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]|airdate = February 10, 2010 |season = 1|number = 1}}</ref> At age eight, heMa appeared on American television with his sister<ref>{{citation | last = Pang | first = Amelia | title = This Is New York: The Untold Story of Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma, Violin Prodigy and Medical Doctor | year = 2001 | publisher = New York City Life}}</ref> in an event introduced by [[Leonard Bernstein]]. In 1964, [[Isaac Stern]] introduced them on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'', and they performed the Sonata of Sammartini. HeMa attended [[Trinity School (New York)|Trinity School]] in New York but transferred to the [[Professional Children's School]], where he graduated at age 15.<ref>Whiting, Jim "Yo-Yo Ma: A Biography" p.39</ref> HeMa appeared as a soloist with the [[Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra]] in a performance of [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s ''[[Variations on a Rococo Theme|Rococo Variations]]''.

Ma studied at the [[Juilliard School]] at age 19 with [[Leonard Rose]] and attended [[Columbia University]], but dropped out. He later enrolled at [[Harvard College]]. Prior to entering Harvard, Ma played in the Marlboro Festival Orchestra under the direction of cellist, conductor, and conductorhis childhood hero [[Pablo Casals]]. HeMa spent four summers at the [[Marlboro Music Festival]] after meeting and falling in love with [[Mount Holyoke College]] sophomore and festival administrator Jill Hornor during his first summer there in 1972.<ref>{{cite book

Even before that time, Ma gained fame and performed with many of the world's major orchestras. He has also played [[chamber music]], often with pianist [[Emanuel Ax]], with whom heMa has a close friendship from their days at Juilliard. Ma received his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[anthropology]] from Harvard in 1976,<ref name= "USAToday20060114">{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-01-14-yo-yo-ma_x.htm | title= Yo Yo Ma named U.N. peace ambassador | date= January 14, 2006 |work=USA Today | agency= Associated Press |access-date= April 10, 2007}}</ref> and in 1991 received an honorary doctorate from Harvard.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9328691 |title= Yo-Yo Ma|encyclopedia= [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|access-date=April 8, 2007}}</ref>

In 1997, Ma was featured on [[John Williams]]'s soundtrack to the Hollywood film ''[[Seven Years in Tibet (1997 film)|Seven Years in Tibet]]''. In 2000, he was heard on the soundtrack of ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'', and of ''[[Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World]]'' in 2003. HeMa collaborated with Williams again on the score for the 2005 film ''[[Memoirs of a Geisha (film)|Memoirs of a Geisha]]''. HeMa has also worked with Italian composer [[Ennio Morricone]] and has recorded Morricone's compositions of the [[Dollars Trilogy]], including ''[[The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly]]'', as well as ''[[Once Upon a Time in America]]'', ''[[The Mission (1986 film)|The Mission]]'', and [[The Untouchables (1987 film)|'' The Untouchables'']]. He has recorded over 90 albums, 19 of which are [[Grammy Award]] winners. HeMa received the Award of Excellence from New York's International Center.

In addition to his prolific musical career, Ma collaborated in 1999 with landscape architects to design a Bach-inspired garden. Known as the Music Garden, it interprets Bach's Suite No. 1 in G Major for unaccompanied cello ([[Cello Suites (Bach)|BWV 1007]]), where the garden's sections were designed to correspond with the suite's dance movements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/venues/torontomusicgarden/|title=Harbourfront Centre - Toronto Music Garden|website=Harbourfrontcentre.com|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807160528/https://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/venues/torontomusicgarden/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Toronto enthusiastically embraced the design, originally planned for Boston, and it was subsequently built in the [[Harbourfront, Toronto|Harbourfront]] neighborhood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/1707/index.html|title=Toronto Music Garden|website=Toronto.ca|date=March 6, 2017 |access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref>

In 2010, Ma was named Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant of the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]]. He launched the Citizen Musician initiative partnership in partnership with the orchestra's music director, [[Riccardo Muti]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cso.org/Institute/CitizenMusician.aspx/ |title=The Negaunee Music Institute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra |website=Cso.org |access-date=November 30, 2015 |archive-date=April 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428232333/http://cso.org/Institute/CitizenMusician.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> AlsoThat insame 2010year, heMa appeared on a solo album by guitarist [[Carlos Santana]], ''Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time'', playing alongside Santana and singer [[India Arie]] on a [[Beatles]] classic, ''[[While My Guitar Gently Weeps]]''.

In 2015, Ma performed with singer-songwriter and guitarist [[James Taylor]] on three tracks of Taylor's chart-topping album [[Before This World]]: ''You And I Again''. In 2019, Ma directed the orchestra at the annual Youth Music Culture Guangdong. MaHe is represented by the independent artist management firm [[Opus 3 Artists]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sjostrom|first1=Jan|title=New Four Arts music, film programmer 'lives his work'|url=http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/new-four-arts-music-film-programmer-lives-his-work/QkM1R90WtKN8ygsyuGsnDI/|access-date=January 18, 2017|website=Palmbeachdailynews.com|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118163103/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/new-four-arts-music-film-programmer-lives-his-work/QkM1R90WtKN8ygsyuGsnDI/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ma contributed to the charity tribute album ''[[The Metallica Blacklist]]'', released in September 2021, by backing [[Miley Cyrus]] on a cover of the Metallica song "[[Nothing Else Matters]]".<ref>{{Cite web|last=He|first=Richard S.|date=2021-09-10|title=Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-metallica-blacklist-cover-ranked-from-worst-to-best|access-date=2021-10-24|website=loudersound|language=en}}</ref>

Ma formed his own collective, the [[Silkroad (arts organization)#Silk Road Ensemble|Silk Road Ensemble]], named after the route across Asia, which for more than 2,000&nbsp; years, was used for trade between Europe and China. His goal was to bring together musicians from diverse countries that were historically linked via the [[Silk Road]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silkroad.org/about|title=About Silkroad|website=Silkroad}}</ref> The ensemble's recordings are issued on the [[Sony Classical]] label. HeMa also founded the Silk Road Connect, an educational pilot program for children from middle schools in the United States, including New York City.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.silkroadproject.org/Education/SilkRoadConnect/tabid/455/Default.aspx | title=Silk Road Connect | publisher=The Silk Road Project | access-date=March 22, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306093701/http://www.silkroadproject.org/Education/SilkRoadConnect/tabid/455/Default.aspx | archive-date=March 6, 2013 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Yo-Yo Ma has been referred to by critics as "omnivorous" and possesses an eclectic repertoire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.berkshiresweek.com/062002/default.asp?filename=story1&adfile=ads4 |title=Yo-Yo Ma: Exploring culture with passion and involvement |publisher=Berkshires Week |first=Andrew L. |last=Pincus |date=June 20, 2002 |access-date=January 15, 2007 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720102520/http://www.berkshiresweek.com/062002/default.asp?filename=story1&adfile=ads4 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to numerous recordings of the standard classical repertoire, he has recorded [[Baroque]] pieces using [[period instruments]]; American [[bluegrass music]]; traditional [[Music of China|Chinese melodies]], including the soundtrack to the film ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon''; the [[Tango music|tangos]] of Argentinian composer [[Astor Piazzolla]]; Brazilian music, recording traditional and contemporary songs composed by [[Antônio Carlos Jobim]] and [[Pixinguinha]]; a collaboration with [[Bobby McFerrin]] (where Ma admitted to being terrified by McFerrin's improvisation); and the music of modern [[minimalism|minimalist]] [[Philip Glass]], in such works as the 2002 ''[[Naqoyqatsi]]''.

Ma is known for his smooth, rich tone, soulful lyricism, and virtuosity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/35-who-made-a-difference-yo-yo-ma-114867029/|title=35 Who Made a Difference: Yo-Yo Ma|website=Smithsonianmag.com|language=en|access-date=June 16, 2019}}</ref> HeMa released a cello recording of [[Niccolò Paganini]]'s [[Caprice No. 24 (Paganini)|Caprice No. 24]] for solo violin and [[Zoltán Kodály]]'s [[Sonata for Solo Cello (Kodály)|Solo Sonata]].

| isbn = 978-1559704908}}: "Jackie's unbridled dark qualities went against the Davydov. You have to coax the instrument. The more you attack it, the less it returns."</ref> Prior to the ''Davidov'', heMa performed on a 1722 [[Matteo Gofriller]] cello which he used for much of his early career. The instrument was previously in the possession of the French cellist [[Pierre Fournier]].<ref>{{Cite web|title= Yo-Yo Ma's magic cello ranked at the top|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=20,29,35,45&post=25598 |access-date=July 17, 2023|website=Taiwan Today| date=March 1982 }}</ref>

Ma also plays on a 1733 [[Domenico Montagnana]] cello, named the "Petunia". In 2005, it was valued at US$2.5&nbsp;million (US${{Inflation|US|2.5|2005|r=1}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}} prices). A student approached Ma after one of his classes in [[Salt Lake City]] and asked if the cello had a nickname. Ma replied, "No, but if I play for you, will you name it?" The student chose Petunia, and it stuck.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|title=10 Questions for Yo-Yo Ma|url= http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1042474,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331041559/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1042474,00.html|archive-date=March 31, 2005|access-date=December 7, 2021|date=March 27, 2005|magazine=Time}}</ref> In 1999, Ma inadvertently left the cello in a taxicab in New York City, but it was quickly returned undamaged.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/nyregion/in-concert-searchers-retrieve-yo-yo-ma-s-lost-stradivarius.html | title=In Concert, Searchers Retrieve Yo-Yo Ma's Lost Stradivarius [sic] | work=New York Times | first=Katherine E. |last=Finkelstein | date=October 17, 1999 | access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> That year, when its neck was damaged during [[X-ray generator#Security|X-ray]] baggage inspection, he borrowed the ''[[List of Stradivarius instruments#Cellos|Pawle Stradivarius]]'' cello from the [[Chimei Museum]] for a concert in [[Taiwan]]. The damage was repaired in time, but Ma played both ''Petunia'' and ''Pawle'' in the concert nonetheless.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/chimei-museum-taiwan/index.html|title=Taiwan's museum 'for the poor' home to world's largest violin collection|author=Maggie Hiufu Wong|website=CNN|date=October 4, 2018 |access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.cts.com.tw/cts/general/199903/199903080025304.html |title=馬友友斷琴已修復演出無礙 |trans-title=Yo-Yo Ma's broken piano has been repaired|website=News.cts.com.tw|access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cm2.chimeimuseum.org/tw/entry.aspx?id=Ita0028|title=:: 奇美博物館提琴收藏數位典藏計畫 :: |trans-title=:: Chi Mei Museum Violin Collection Digital Collection Project:: |website=Cm2.chimeimuseum.org|access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref>

Ma performed a duet with [[Condoleezza Rice]] at the presentation of the 2001 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Awards. He was the first performer on September 11, 2002, at the [[World Trade Center site|site of the World Trade Center]], while the first of the [[Casualties of the September 11 attacks|names of the dead]] were read on the first anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks|attack on the WTC]]; heMa played the [[Sarabande]] from Bach's ''[[BWV 1011|Cello Suite #5 in C Minor]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Whiting |first=Jim |date=2008 |title=Yo-Yo Ma: A Biography |url=https://archive.org/details/yoyomabiography00whit |url-access=registration |quote=yo yo ma 9/11 first anniversary 2002. |location=Westport, CT |publisher=Greenwood Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/yoyomabiography00whit/page/147 147] |isbn=978-0-313-34486-2}}</ref> He performed a special arrangement of [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]'s "[[Fragile (Sting song)|Fragile]]" with Sting and the [[Mormon Tabernacle Choir]] in the opening ceremonies of the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City]], Utah. HeMa also appeared as a ''Pennington Great Performers'' series artist with the [[Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra]] in 2005.

HeMa performed [[John Williams]]'s "[[Air and Simple Gifts]]" at the [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|inauguration ceremony]] for [[Barack Obama]] on January 20, 2009, along with [[Itzhak Perlman]] (violin), [[Gabriela Montero]] (piano), and [[Anthony McGill (musician)|Anthony McGill]] (clarinet). While the quartet played live, the music, played simultaneously over speakers and on television, was a recording made two days prior due to concerns over the cold weather damaging the instruments. Ma said, "A broken string was not an option. It was wicked cold."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7846472.stm – Quartet pre-recorded Obama music]. BBC News (January 23, 2009). Retrieved on July 1, 2011.</ref>

On August 29, 2009, Ma performed at the funeral mass for [[Ted Kennedy|Senator Edward M. Kennedy]]. Pieces he performed included the Sarabande movement from [[J.S. Bach|Bach]]'s ''[[Cello Suites (Bach)|Cello Suite No. 6]]'' and [[César Franck|Franck]]'s ''[[Panis angelicus]]'' with [[Plácido Domingo]].<ref>[http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/20607537/detail.html Kennedy Funeral Includes Family, Music, President] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901173250/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/20607537/detail.html |date=September 1, 2009 }}. Thebostonchannel.com (August 28, 2009). Retrieved on July 1, 2011.</ref> A month later, Ma appeared with Canadian prime minister [[Stephen Harper]] at the National Arts Centre gala in Ottawa. Harper, a fan of [[The Beatles]], played the piano and sang a rendition of "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]" while Ma accompanied him on cello.

On October 3, 2009, Ma appeared with Canadian prime minister [[Stephen Harper]] at the National Arts Centre gala in Ottawa. Harper, a fan of [[The Beatles]], played the piano and sang a rendition of "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]" while Ma accompanied him on cello. On October 16, 2011, Ma performed at the memorial of [[Steve Jobs]] at Stanford University's [[Stanford Memorial Church|Memorial Church]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/10/17/steve-jobs%E2%80%99s-family-gave-moving-words-at-sunday-memorial/ | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Jessica E. | last=Vascellaro | title=Steve Jobs's Family Gave Moving Words at Sunday Memorial | date=October 17, 2011 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 4, 2017 | archive-date=April 10, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410022201/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/10/17/steve-jobs%E2%80%99s-family-gave-moving-words-at-sunday-memorial/ }}</ref> A month later, Ma performed with American dancer [[Lil Buck|Charles "Lil Buck" Riley]] in the United States and in China at the U.S.-China Forum on the Arts and Culture.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-CJB-14683 |title = Watch Yo Yo Ma and Lil' Buck Perform 'The Swan' in Beijing |newspaper = The Wall Street Journal |last = Chin|first = Josh |date = November 21, 2011 |access-date = December 7, 2021}}</ref>

On May 1, 2019, heMa performed at [[Paranal Observatory]] in the [[Atacama desert]]. He said that his interest in [[astronomy]] motivated him to visit and perform there. A month later, Ma performed the Bach ''Complete Cello Suites'' in plein air at [[Jay Pritzker Pavilion]] in Chicago, Illinois. The free performance attracted what might have been his largest audience, with a pavilion capacity of 11,000, and many thousands more listening from surrounding [[Millennium Park]].

Ma appeared as himself in an episode ("My Music Rules") of the animated children's television series ''[[Arthur (TV series)|Arthur]]'', and on ''[[The West Wing]]'' (the episode "[[Noël (The West Wing)|Noël]]"), where he played the prelude to Bach's ''Cello Suite No.1'' at a Congressional Christmas party. HeMa made five appearances on ''[[Sesame Street]]'', all of which first aired during the show's 17th season in 1986. He appeared in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Puffless]]", where heMa played a serenade and theme music. Ma'sHis likeness appeared in another ''Simpsons'' episode, "[[Missionary: Impossible]]", but heMa was played by regular ''Simpsons'' cast member [[Hank Azaria]] rather than Ma himself. Ma appeared twice on ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'', developed a friendship with creator and host [[Fred Rogers]], and later received the inaugural Fred Rogers Legacy Award.

Ma also starred in the visual accompaniment to his recordings of [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach's]] ''[[Cello Suites (Bach)|Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello]]''. He was often invited to press events by [[Apple Inc.]] and [[Pixar]] CEO [[Steve Jobs]], performed during the company's major events, and appeared in a commercial for the [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] computer. Ma's Bach recordings were used in a memorial video released by Apple on the first anniversary of Jobs's death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.macstories.net/links/apples-tribute-to-steve-jobs-yo-yo-ma-and-the-prelude-from-bach/|title=Apple's Tribute To Steve Jobs, Yo-Yo Ma, And The Prelude From Bach|website=Macstories.net|date=October 5, 2012 |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

On October 27, 2008, Ma appeared as a guest and performer on ''[[The Colbert Report]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yo-Yo Ma - The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/fnuvdv/the-colbert-report-yo-yo-ma |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411162519/https://www.cc.com/video/fnuvdv/the-colbert-report-yo-yo-ma |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 7, 2021 |date=October 28, 2008}}</ref> He was also one of the show's guests on November 1, 2011, where he performedperforming songs from the album ''[[The Goat Rodeo Sessions]]'' with musicians [[Stuart Duncan]], [[Edgar Meyer]] and [[Chris Thile]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile - The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/yo2avl/the-colbert-report-yo-yo-ma-stuart-duncan-edgar-meyer-chris-thile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625124457/https://www.cc.com/video/yo2avl/the-colbert-report-yo-yo-ma-stuart-duncan-edgar-meyer-chris-thile |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |website=Comedy Central |access-date=December 7, 2021 |date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> HeMa also performed several of Bach's cello suites for the 2012 film ''[[Bill W.]]'' On October 5, 2015, he appeared on Colbert's new program, ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'', in support of ballerina [[Misty Copeland]], and prematurely celebrating his 60th birthday.

In August 2018, Ma appeared on [[NPR]]'s [[Tiny Desk Concerts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uiUHvET_jg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/3uiUHvET_jg| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Yo-Yo Ma: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert|date=August 24, 2018 |publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=June 20, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On September 1, 2020, the same group performed a virtual concert of some songs from ''[[Not Our First Goat Rodeo]]'' on [[NPR]]'s [[Tiny Desk Concerts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yiQbeB7Bk8&ab_channel=NPRMusic |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-yiQbeB7Bk8| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert|date=September 2020 |publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=October 1, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On June 13, 2021, Ma was the guest on BBC Radio 4's ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''.<ref name=did>{{Cite web|title=Desert Island Discs - Yo-Yo Ma, musician |publisher=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000wywd|website=bbc.co.uk|date=13 June 2021|access-date=18 June 2021|quote=“I'm still trying to get it right”}}</ref> His musical choices included "Tin Tin Deo" by the [[Oscar Peterson Trio]] and "[[Moscow Nights|Podmoskovnye Vechera - Moscow Nights]]" by [[Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi]]. HeMa selected as his book the 24 volumes of the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', and as his luxury item a [[Swiss Army knife]]. HeMa revealed that his career in music felt like a "gift" after [[scoliosis]] threatened his ability to play in his mid-20s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/leisure/national/19368976.yo-yo-ma-music-career-gift-following-scoliosis-treatment/|title=Yo-Yo Ma : My music career has been a gift following scoliosis treatment|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=June 13, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hudsonvalleyscoliosis.com/celebrities-scoliosis/yo-yo-ma-scoliosis/|title=Yo-Yo Ma's Scoliosis Story|date=May 4, 2013|website=Strauss Scoliosis Correction}}</ref>

Since 1978, Ma has been married to Jill Hornor, an arts consultant.<ref>{{citation|title=Weddings and Celebrations: Emily Ma and John Mistovich|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 28, 2014 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/fashion/weddings/emily-ma-and-john-mistovich.html?_r=0|access-date=February 13, 2016|url-access=subscription}}</ref><!-- many articles mistakenly say that Hornor is an instructor or professor of German literature at Harvard; that is not true --> They have two children, Nicholas and Emily.<ref name=Smithsonian/><ref name=NYDailyNews>{{citation | last=Bell | first=Bill | title=Suite Sounds of Yo-yo Ma | newspaper=[[The New York Daily News]] | date=March 29, 1998 | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/suite-sounds-yo-yo-ma-article-1.786769 | access-date=January 23, 2012}}</ref> Although he personally considers it the "worst epithet he's ever faced"," heMa was "tagged" in 2001 as "Sexiest Classical Musician" by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''.<ref name="Sexiest classical">{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/yo-yo-ma-sexiest-classical-musician-vol-56-no-22/|title=Yo-Yo Ma: Sexiest Classical Musician|work=Volume 56|publisher=People Magazine|page=93|access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> He has continued to receive such accolades over the years, including from [[AARP]] in 2012, when Ma was named one of the "21 sexiest men over 50."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/style-trends/info-04-2012/sexiest-men-over-50.html|title=AARP's 21 Sexiest Men Over 50 - Washington, Pitt, Smits|first=Christina|last=Ianzito|website=Aarp.org|access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref> He has also been praised as a person of unquestionable character, and singled out for his humble spirit, self-effacing manner, and humanitarianism.<ref name="1Smithsonian">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/35-who-made-a-difference-yo-yo-ma-114867029/?no-ist|title=35 Who Made a Difference:Yo Yo Ma|last=Kosman|first=Joshua|date=November 2005|magazine=Smithsonian Magazine|access-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>

According to research presented by Harvard professor [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates Jr.]] for the PBS series ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'', a relative hid the Ma [[genealogy book|family genealogy]] in his home in China to save it from destruction during the [[Cultural Revolution]]. Ma's paternal ancestry can be traced back 18 generations to the year 1217. The genealogy was compiled in the 18th century by an ancestor, tracing everyone with the surname Ma, through the paternal line, back to one common ancestor in the 3rdthird century BC. Ma's [[generation name]], Yo, was decided by his fourth great grand-uncle, Ma Ji Cang, in 1755.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/yo-yo-ma/7/ "Faces of America: Yo-Yo Ma"], PBS, ''[[Faces of America (PBS series)|Faces of America]]'' series, with [[Henry Louis Gates|Henry Louis Gates Jr.]], 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-mystery-of-yo-yo-mas-name "The Mystery of Yo-Yo Ma's Name"], Henry Louis Gates, Jr., ''The Daily Beast'', February 9, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2021</ref> DNA research revealed that Ma is distantly related to actress [[Eva Longoria]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/article_f7f6a7d1-41bd-597a-8275-dbffb087875a.html|title=Eva Longoria and Yo-Yo Ma cousins? Genetics researcher's PBS special looks at the tiny building blocks behind some really big names|author=Dave Walker|website=Nola.com|date=February 10, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

Aside from [[English language|English]], Ma is fluent in [[Mandarin Chinese]] and [[French language|French]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJG9PgSPnKQ | title=歐陽娜娜 對話 馬友友 - Nana Ou-Yang & Yo-Yo Ma - 2021 Youth Music Culture Guangdong | website=[[YouTube]] | date=January 30, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/yo-yo-mas-other-passion-63898487/ | title= Yo-Yo Ma's Other Passion | website= Smithsonian Magazine }}</ref> He has a cousin, whom is also a musician named "little nepitiz".

Ma's albums include recordings of cello concertos, sonatas for cello and piano, works for solo cello, and a variety of chamber music. He has also recorded in non-classical styles, notably in collaboration with artists such as [[Bobby McFerrin]], [[Carlos Santana]], [[Chris Botti]], [[Chris Thile]], [[Diana Krall]], [[James Taylor]], [[Miley Cyrus]] and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axs.com/uk/santana-covers-the-beatles-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-13488|title=Concert tickets, sports tickets, family shows, tour dates and event calendars at top venues around the world |website=Axs.com|access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kupferberg|first1=Harold|title=Odd Couple|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19920405&id=UlhPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4028,1515527|access-date=February 18, 2015|work=Parade Magazine|date=April 5, 1992}}</ref> <!--This is undue detail, I think: "and as a featured accompanist to James Taylor in "Enough to Be On Your Way" on Taylor's album, "Hourglass".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Murthi|first1=R. S.|title=Graceful and Fluid Music from Yo-Yo Ma|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19970629&id=4QEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LBUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6683,6648033|access-date=February 18, 2015|work=New Straits Times|date=June 30, 1997}}</ref>" -->

[[Category:ChildAmerican child classical musicians]]

[[Category:ContemporaryAmerican contemporary classical music performers]]