Who is Yo-Yo Ma? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Age: 69 Years, 69 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Jill Hornor (m. 1978)

father: Hiao-Tsiun Ma

mother: Marina Lu

siblings: Yeou-Cheng Ma

children: Emily Ma, Nicholas Ma

Born Country: France

Violinists American Men

Notable Alumni: Juilliard School

Ancestry: French American, Chinese Australian, Chinese French

City: Paris

Founder/Co-Founder: Silk Road Project

More Facts

education: Columbia University, Harvard College, Juilliard School

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1

What instruments can Yo-Yo Ma play?

Yo-Yo Ma is primarily known as a cellist, but he can also play the viola, violin, and piano.
2

Has Yo-Yo Ma ever collaborated with other musicians?

Yes, Yo-Yo Ma has collaborated with numerous musicians from various genres including classical, jazz, and world music.
3

How did Yo-Yo Ma become interested in music?

Yo-Yo Ma's interest in music began at a young age when he started playing the cello at the age of four. He comes from a musical family, which influenced his passion for music.
4

What is Yo-Yo Ma's approach to music and performing?

Yo-Yo Ma is known for his versatile and expressive approach to music. He believes in the power of music to connect people and cultures, and he strives to convey emotion and meaning through his performances.
5

How has Yo-Yo Ma contributed to music education?

Yo-Yo Ma is a strong advocate for music education and has been involved in various initiatives to promote the importance of music in education. He founded the Silk Road Project, which aims to connect cultures through music and education.

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Childhood & Early Life

Yo-Yo Ma was born on 7 October 1955, in Paris, France to Chinese parents. His mother, Marina Lu, was a singer while his father, Hiao-Tsiun Ma, was a violinist and a professor of music who taught at the Nanjing National Central University. The family moved to the USA when Yo-Yo Ma was a child.

He received a musical upbringing and started playing the violin and the piano from an early age. He learnt to play the cello when he was only four and a half.

He gained much popularity as a child prodigy because of his remarkable talents. He performed for Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy when he was only seven. He made his first television appearance as an eight year old.

He graduated from the Professional Children’s School at the age of fifteen. Then he studied at the Julliard School, and later attended Columbia University. However, he soon dropped out and entered Harvard College. He graduated in 1976. Fifteen years later, he also received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater.

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Career

Yo-Yo Ma wanted to begin his career right after receiving his bachelor’s degree. However it was delayed for some months as he had to undergo surgery for scoliosis. Fortunately, the surgery was a success and he was able to begin his career soon after. Blessed with extraordinary musical skills, he gained much popularity before long.

His amazing talents as a cellist attracted many contemporary composers and he gained numerous commissions. Quite often, he also performed as part of a trio, with pianist Emanuel Ax and violinist Young-Uck Kim. For their recordings of the sonatas of Ludwig Van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms, they earned a lot of appreciation.

On July 5th, 1986, Yo-Yo Ma performed on the New York Philharmonic's tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, which was one of the most significant performances in his career.

Throughout his career, he has produced numerous albums. Some of his early works are ‘Great Cello Concertos’ (1989), ‘Made in America’ (1993) and ‘Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla’ (1997).

Yo-Yo Ma founded the Silk Road Project in 1998 to encourage collaboration among artists and institutions. He saw it as a means to “promote multicultural artistic collaboration”. According to its website, the project aims to connect the world’s neighborhoods by bringing together both artists and audience from around the world. Currently, it is affiliated to Harvard University.

Yo-Yo Ma performed at the site of the World Trade Center on 11th September 2002, to remember the ones killed during the attack on the World Trade Center.

Along with live performances, he continued working on and releasing albums, some of them being ‘Obrigado Brazil’ (2003), ‘Songs of Joy & Peace’ (2008), and ‘The Goat Rodeo Sessions’ (2011).

In January 2009, Yo-Yo Ma performed ‘Air and Simple Gifts’ at the inauguration ceremony for the newly elected US President Barack Obama. The same year, he made another notable performance at the funeral mass for Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

His music was featured in the 2010 American documentary film ‘Jews and Baseball’.

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He also performed at an interfaith service on April 2013, to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. The event was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Along with several other musicians, Yo-Yo Ma also accompanied members of the Boston Children’s Chorus in a hymn.

Major Works

Yo-Yo Ma has composed soundtracks for several films. ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ which was released in the year 2000, can be regarded the most important movie he has ever worked in. The film, which was directed by Ang Lee, was a huge hit. It was nominated for ten Oscars, out of which it won seven. It also did well commercially, grossing more than $200 million dollars on a budget of $17 million.

’The Goat Rodeo Sessions’ is Yo-Yo Ma’s most recent album, on which he collaborated with Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. The album included tracks such as ‘Quarter Chicken Dark’ and ‘Where’s My Bow?’ It debuted at No. 23 on the US Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Classical as well as the Classical Crossover charts. It did well commercially and eventually won two Grammys as well.

Awards & Achievements

Yo-Yo Ma has received numerous awards throughout his career. Along with a total of eighteen Grammy Awards, he has also won several other significant awards such as the ‘National Medal of Arts’ (2001), ‘Dan David Prize’ (2006), ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011), ‘Polar Music Prize’ (2012) and Fred Rogers Legacy Award (2014).

Personal Life

Yo-Yo Ma is married to Jill Hornor, who works as an arts consultant. The couple has two children, Nicholas and Emily.

Despite having won numerous awards, and having earned tremendous fame worldwide, he is of a quite humble nature.

Since 2006, he has been an United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Facts About Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma is known for his eclectic taste in music, which includes not only classical works but also collaborations with artists from diverse genres such as bluegrass, jazz, and world music.

In addition to being a world-renowned cellist, Yo-Yo Ma is also a passionate advocate for music education and has founded several initiatives to support music programs in schools and communities.

Yo-Yo Ma is fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, and Chinese, allowing him to connect with audiences around the world on a deeper level.

Despite his busy schedule as a performer and recording artist, Yo-Yo Ma finds time to engage with his fans through social media, sharing personal stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses of his life as a musician.

In his spare time, Yo-Yo Ma enjoys practicing yoga and meditation to maintain a sense of balance and mindfulness in his life, reflecting his holistic approach to music and well-being.

2013	Best Folk Album	Winner
2013	Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical	Winner
2010	Best Classical Crossover Album	Winner
2009	Best Engineered Album, Classical	Winner
2007	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media	Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
2005	Best Instrumental Composition	Winner
2004	Best Engineered Album, Classical	Winner
2004	Best Classical Crossover Album	Winner
2001	Best Classical Crossover Album	Winner
1999	Best Classical Crossover Album	Winner
1998	Best Classical Album	Winner
1998	Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)	Winner
1996	Best Chamber Music Performance	Winner
1995	Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with orchestra)	Winner
1993	Best Chamber Music Performance	Winner
1993	Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Solo With Orchestra	Winner
1992	Best Chamber Music Performance	Winner
1990	Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist (with orchestra)	Winner
1987	Best Chamber Music Performance	Winner
1986	Best Chamber Music Performance	Winner
1986	Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (with orchestra)	Winner

Yo-Yo Ma Biography

You wanted to know

What instruments can Yo-Yo Ma play?

Has Yo-Yo Ma ever collaborated with other musicians?

How did Yo-Yo Ma become interested in music?

What is Yo-Yo Ma's approach to music and performing?

How has Yo-Yo Ma contributed to music education?