Yo-Yo Ma

Cellist who transformed classical music through cross-cultural collaborations and the Silk Road Project

Yo-Yo Ma (b. 1955), the French-born Chinese-American cellist, redefined classical music's role in global culture. His Silk Road Project, launched in 1998, created unprecedented musical dialogues between Western and Asian traditions.

Ma made a difference by dismantling cultural barriers through music. Collaborating with Central Asian throat singers, Iranian kamancheh players, and Mongolian folk artists, he demonstrated music's power as a "universal language of empathy". His Goat Rodeo Sessions fused bluegrass with classical, while his Bach Cello Suites became a meditation on global interconnectedness.

Beyond performance, Ma advocates for arts education through his CultureLab initiative and serves as the UN Messenger of Peace. His concept of "culture as social infrastructure" influences urban planning and conflict resolution strategies worldwide.