1. Yo-Yo Ma

2. Yo-Yo Ma Born October 7, 1955 in Paris, France
Moved to NYC when he was 5
Very Musical Family - Mom was a singer, dad was a violinist and music professor
Started on the violin, then switched to viola. Wanted to play the bass, but compromised with the cello because of the size of the bass.

3. Started performing for audiences at age 5
Age 7 - Performed for Presidents John F. Kennedy & Dwight D. Eisenhower
Age 8 - appeared on tv with his sister in a concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein

4. Education Age 15 - Graduated from Trinity School in NYC
Trinity - Private School - Notable attendees/alumni include:
Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Connelly, Oliver Stone, Ryu Goto (brother of Midori), Stacy London, and John McEnroe
Studied Cello at Julliard with Leonard Rose
Briefly attended Columbia University before enrolling at Harvard University

5. Played in Marlboro Festival Orchestra under direction of Pablo Casals
Received his Bachelor’s Degree (liberal arts) from Harvard in 1976
President Obama appointed Ma to serve on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

6. Awards 1978 - Avery Fisher Prize 1999 - Glenn Gould Prize
National Medal of the Arts
Dan David Prize
Sonning Prize
World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award
Appointed a CultureConnect Ambassador by the U.S. Dept. of State in met with, trained and mentored thousands of students worldwide including Lithuania, Korea, Lebanon, Azerbaijan and China
Performed with and conducted master classes for members of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra

7. Currently plays with his Silk Road Ensemble
Goal is to bring together musicians from diverse countries all of which are historically linked via the Silk Road

8. Cello Nicknamed Petunia Made by Domenico Montagnana in 1733
Little girl named it when Ma had not.
Made by Domenico Montagnana in 1733
Valued at $2.5 million dollars
Lost in the fall of 1999 when Ma accidentally left it in a taxicab in NYC
Another of Ma’s cellos, the Davidov Stradivarius, was previously owned by Jacqueline du Pre who passed it to him upon her death
Ma also owns a carbon fiber cello made by the Luis and Clark company of Boston

9. Music
Very eclectic repertoire including: Baroque period (using period instruments), American Bluegrass, Chinese melodies, Tangos, collaboration with Bobby McFerrin and Philip Glass.

10. Discography
Movies
Seven Years in Tibet
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Memoirs of a Geisha
Has over 75 albums, 15 of which are Grammy Award winners

11. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo_Yo_Ma

12. Personal Life
married long-time girlfriend, Jill Hornor, whom he met while playing in Marlboro Festival Orchestra
She is a German Language professor
2 - Kids: Nicholas & Emily
Currently resides in Boston, Mass.