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Career

Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
2010–present
Judson and Joyce Creative Consultant Chicago, Illinois USA
ALBUMS RELEASED
2013
Cellist with The Silk Road Ensemble A Playlist Without Borders
2012
Cellist with Kathryn Stott, Joseph Gramley, Sergio and Odair Assad Viva Brazil Live EP
2011
Cellist Concertos for the New World (Remastered)
2011
Cellist Impressions
2011
Cellist with Bobby McFerrin Hush (Remastered)
2011
Cellist Haydn: Cello Concertos (Remastered)
2011
Cellist Made in America
2011
Cellist with Edgar Meyer and Mark O'Connor Appalachia Waltz (Remastered)
2011
Cellist The New York Album (Remastered)
2011
Cellist with Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile The Goat Rodeo Sessions
2011
Cellist with The Silk Road Ensemble Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon (Remastered)
2011
Cellist with Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile The Goat Rodeo Sessions – Exclusive CD + DVD Package
2010
Cellist with Ton Koopman and The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra Vivaldi’s Cello (Remastered)
2010
Cellist with Emanuel Ax, Itzhak Perlman and Felix Mendelssohn (Composer) Mendelssohn: Piano Trios, Op. 49 & Op. 66
2008
Cellist including collaborations with many other artists Yo-Yo Ma: Songs of Joy & Peace
2007
Cellist Yo Yo Ma – La Voix Du Violoncelle
2007
Cellist Appassionato
2007
Cellist with The Silk Road Ensemble New Impossibilities
2006
Cellist The Knot Collection of Ceremony & Wedding Music selected by The Knot’s Carley Roney (2006)
2005
Cellist with Silk Road Ensemble, and Jason Duckles Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon
2005
Cellist with Itzhak Perlman Memoirs of a Geisha
2004
Cellist The Dvorák Album
2004
Cellist Essential Yo-Yo Ma
2004
Cellist with clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera, guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad, singer/guitarist Rosa Passos, pianist Kathryn Scott, percussionist Cyro Baptista, and bassist Nilson Matta Obrigado Brazil – Live In Concert
2004
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
2003
Cellist with Kathryn Stott Paris – La Belle Époque
2003
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev: Cello Sonatas – Expanded Edition
2003
Cellist Simply Baroque – Expanded Edition
2003
Cellist Obrigado Brazil (2003)
2003
Cellist with Bélo Fleck, Billy Joel, Charoltte Church, Duetto (Marcelo Álvarez and Salvatore Licitra), Mario Frangoulis, Mary Fahl, Murray Perahia, OperaBabes, John Williams, Summer Classics For A New Century
2002
Cellist Dvorak: Cello Concerto; Piano Trio “Dumky”
2002
Cellist with Silk Road Ensemble (Performer), Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, and Kayhan Kalhor Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet
2002
Cellist Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6
2002
Cellist with John Williams and the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles Yo-Yo Ma Plays The Music of John Williams
2001
Cellist with Bond, Sarah Brightman, Charlotte Church, Luciano Pavarotti, Russell Watson and many others Classical Hits
2001
Cellist Classic Yo-Yo
2000
Cellist with Johann Sebastian Bach (Performer), Luigi Boccherini (Performer), Ton Koopman (Performer), and The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Performer) Simply Baroque II
2000
Cellist with John Corigliano (Composer), Emanuel Ax (Performer), James Tocco (Performer) Corigliano: Phantasmagoria
1999
Cellist Solo
1999
Cellist with Paul Winter, Pamela Frank, Sam Waterston, Derrick Inouye, Orchestra of St. Luke's and Betty Baisch's Choral Associates Stock: Lulie the Iceberg
1998
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Brahms Cello Sonatas
1998
Cellist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Tavener: The Protecting Veil & Wake Up…and Die
1997
Cellist Piazzolla: Soul of the Tango
1995
Cellist with the New York Philhamonic Dvorák: Cello Concerto, Op. 104; Herbert: Cello Concerto No. 2 in E minor, Op. 30
1995
Cellist Greatest Hits: Saint-Saëns (1995)
1995
Cellist Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart: Clarinet Trios (1995)
1994
Cellist with Emanuel Ax and Pamela Frank Chopin: Chamber Music
1994
Cellist with Rudolf Firkusny, Itzhak Perlman, Frederica von Stade, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa (Conductor) Dvorák In Prague: A Celebration
1994
Cellist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra The New York Album
1992
Cellist with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Lorin Maazel Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante; Tchaikovsky: Rococco Variations; Andante Cantabile
1991
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev: Cello Sonatas
1991
Cellist Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1; Piano Concerto No. 2; Violin Concerto No. 3
1990
Cellist Don Quixote, Op. 35
1990
Cellist Portrait Of Yo-Yo Ma
1989
Cellist with Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Issac Stern The Japanese Album
1989
Cellist Barber: Cello Concerto; Britten: Symphony for Cello & Orchestra
1989
Cellist Great Cello Concertos: Dvorák, Elgar, Haydn, Saint-Säens, Schumann
1989
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Strauss and Britten Cello Sonatas
1989
Cellist with Sofiya Gubaidulina, Dmitry Shostakovich, Kim Kashkashian, Daniel Phillips, and Gidon Kremer Shostakovich: Quartet No.15; Gubaidulina: Rejoice
1989
Cellist with Stephane Grappelli Anything Goes The Music of Cole Porter
1989
Cellist Portrait of Yo-Yo Ma
1989
Cellist Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Cello Concerto
1987
Cellist Boccherini: Cello Concerto; J.C. Bach: Sinfionia Concertante
1987
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Beethoven: Complete Cello Sonatas (1987)
1986
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Beethoven: Cello Sonata No.4; Variations
1986
Cellist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa Strauss: Don Quixote, Op. 35 & Schoenberg: Concerto in D Major for Cello and Orchestra (Arr. from Harpsichord Concerto by Mathias Georg Monn)
1986
Cellist Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Silent Woods; Rondo
1985
Cellist Japanese Melodies
1985
Cellist with Andre Previn (Conductor), and the London Symphony Orchestra Elgar, Walton: Cello Concertos
1985
Cellist Schubert: Quintet in C Major
1984
Cellist with Claude Bolling Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio
1984
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Beethoven: Cello Sonatas Nos.3 & 5
1984
Cellist with Kenneth Cooper Bach: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord
1984
Cellist with Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), and the Philadelphia Orchestra Shostakovich, Kabalevsky: Cello Concertos
1983
Cellist Kreisler, Paganini: Works
1983
Cellist with Emanuel Ax Beethoven: Cello Sonatas, Op.5, Nos.1 & 2
LIVE PERFORMANCES
2013
Played the Sarabande from Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor; also, he and other musicians accompanied members of the Boston Children's Chorus in a hymn.[28 Interfaith service to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings / Cathedral of the Holy Cross
2011
Performed with American dancer Charles "Lil Buck" Riley U.S.-China Forum on the Arts and Culture / in the United States and in China
2011
Performer Memorial for Steve Jobs / Stanford University's Memorial Church
2009
Accompanied Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends" National Arts Centre Gala / Ottawa, Ontario Canada
2009
Performed the Sarabande movement from Bach's Cello Suite No. 6 and Franck's Panis Angelicus with Plácido Domingo. Funeral mass for Senator Edward M. Kennedy
2009
Solo cello performer with John Ferrari and Ayano Kataoka World premiere of Bruce Adolphe's "Self Comes to Mind" / American Museum of Natural History in New York City
2009
Performed John Williams's "Air and Simple Gifts" with Itzhak Perlman (violin), Gabriela Montero (piano), and Anthony McGill (clarinet) Inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama
2005
Appeared as a Pennington Great Performers series artist Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra / Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
2002
Performed a special arrangement of Sting's "Fragile" with Sting and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics / Salt Lake City, Utah USA
2002
Played the Sarabande from Bach's Suite in C minor (#5) while the first of the names of the dead were read in remembrance on the first anniversary of 9/11 First performer at the site of the World Trade Center
2001
Performed a duet with Condoleezza Rice Presentation of the 2001 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Awards
1986
Performed with the New York Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta, conductor New York Philharmonic's tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty / Central Park
MEDIA APPEARANCES
2011
Performed songs from The Goat Rodeo Sessions with fellow musicians Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile The Colbert Report
2008
Guest and performer The Colbert Report
2007
Guest on the "Not My Job" segment Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Accomplishments of note

Performed for eight American presidents, most recently at the invitation of President Obama on the occasion of the 56th Inaugural Ceremony
Starred in the visual accompaniment to his recordings of Bach's Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello
Invited to press events by Apple Inc. and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs and has performed on stage during event keynote presentations, as well as appearing in a commercial for the Macintosh computer
Appeared twice on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and developed a friendship with creator and host Fred Rogers
Appeared on The West Wing (episode "Noël", performed the prelude to Bach's Cello Suite No.1 at a Congressional Christmas party)
Appeared in an episode of the animated children's television series Arthur, as well as Sesame Street

Professional honors and awards

2012
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Best Folk Album: The Goat Rodeo Sessions w/ Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile
2011
Kennedy Center Honoree Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center Lifetime of contributions to American culture
2009
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Best Classical Crossover Album: Songs of Joy & Peace (Sony Classical B001BN1V8U)
2004
Latin Grammy Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Best Instrumental Album: Obrigado Brazil (Sony 89935)
2001
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Best Classical Crossover Album: Appalachian Journey (Sony 66782)
1999
Fifth Glenn Gould Prize Laureate Glenn Gould Foundation
1999
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Best Classical Crossover Album: Soul of the Tango – The Music of Ástor Piazzolla (Sony Classical 63122)
1998
Gemini Award Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series: Yo-Yo Ma Inspired by Bach (1997) For episode "Falling Down Stairs"
1998
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Classical Album: Yo-Yo Ma Premieres – Danielpour, Kirchner, Rouse (Sony Classical 66299)
1998
Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: Yo-Yo Ma Premieres – Danielpour, Kirchner, Rouse (Sony Classical 66299)
1996
Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance: National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Chamber Music Performance: Brahms/Beethoven/Mozart: Clarinet Trios (Sony 57499)
1995
Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition: National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Classical Contemporary Composition: The New York Album, Stephen Albert: Cello Concerto (Sony 57961)
1995
Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: The New York Album – Works of Albert, Bartók & Bloch (Sony 57961)
1993
Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante/Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (Sony 48382)
1993
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Chamber Music Performance: Brahms: Sonatas for Cello & Piano (Sony 48191)
1992
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Chamber Music Performance: Brahms: Piano Quartets Op. 25, Op. 26 (Sony 45846)
1991
Primetime Emmy Award Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming: Tchaikovsky: 150th Birthday Gala from Leningrad (1990)
1990
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance: Barber: Cello Concerto, Op. 22/Britten: Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 (CBS 44900)
1987
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Chamber Music Performance: Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonata No. 4 in C & Variations (CBS 42121)
1986
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Chamber Music Performance: Cello and Piano Sonatas in E Minor Op. 38, and F Op. 99 (RCA 17022)
1985
Grammy Award National Academy of Recording Arts and Science Best Instrumental Soloist Performance: Bach: The Unaccompanied Cello Suites (CBS 37867)
1978
Avery Fisher Prize Avery Fisher Artist Program / Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Outstanding achievement and excellence in classical music

Community

Community service

2009–present
Presidential Committee on Arts and Humanities Washington, District of Columbia USA Committee Member
2006–present
United Nations New York, New York USA United Nations Messenger of Peace
1998–present
Silk Road Project, Inc. (Silkroad) Boston, Massachusetts USA Founder and Artistic Director - nonprofit organization that seeks to create meaningful change at the intersections of the arts, education and business
2011
The Family Center New York, New York USA Hosted benefit gala "A Celebration of Parenting"
2010
Kansas City Vocal Institute Kansas City, Missouri USA Donated 2 autographed CDs for auction at Charity Auction

Community honors and awards

2014
Fred Rogers Legacy Award Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media / Saint Vincent College Inaugural recipient - commitment to education and cultural enrichment
2014
Golden Baton Award Midwest Young Artists (MYA) Significant contributions to classical music
2013
Vilcek Prize Vilcek Foundation Contemporary Music
2012
Polar Music Prize Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation
2010
Presidential Medal of Freedom United States President Barack Obama
2008
Crystal Award World Economic Forum
2007
Award of Distinction RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival / Manchester, England United Kingdom
2006
Dan David Prize The Dan David Foundation Past - Preserving Cultural Heritage
2006
Léonie Sonning Music Prize University of Copenhagen Denmark's highest musical honor
2001
National Medal of Arts / National Endowment of the Arts United States President George W. Bush
Nationality
American (at birth: French)

Education

Primary school
Trinity School
  New York, New York USA
Conservatory
Juilliard School Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York, New York USA Studied with Leonard Rose
University
Columbia University New York, New York USA
University
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts USA Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Humanities
Secondary school
Professional Children’s School New York, New York USA Class of 1970

Graduated at age 15

Native language
Chinese
Other languages
French and English

Honorary Degrees

2011
Brandeis University Waltham, Massachusetts, USA L.H.D. Doctor of Humane Letters
2005
Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey USA D.M.A. Doctor of Musical Arts
1991
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts USA Mus.D. Doctor of Music

Family

Vital statistics

Birth information
October 7, 1955
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Paris, French Republic   
Marital status
Married

Marriage

1978–present
 Jill Hornor        2 children Nicholas Ma Emily Hornor Ma

Parents

Father
MA Hiao-Tsiun (1911-1991)
Mother
Marina LU Ya-Wen

Grandparents

Father's father
MA Ming-Yang (1889-1944)
Father's mother
ZHU Pu-Zhong (1886-1956)

Ancestry

Chinese