Hannah Ferrill Mr. Carioto Band (7) 28 November 2009 Yo Yo Ma was born in Paris.

He began studying the cello when he was four years old with his father. He gave his first recital when he was only five years old. He later moved to New York where he lived most of his life. He then made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of nine. Later in his life he went to Juiliard School where he studied Leonard Rose and Janos Scholz. Then he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in humanities. Soon after his graduation, he started his professional carrier. He was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize and later in 1991 Harvard awarded him an honorary doctorate in music. Ma became known for his performances and recordings. He started frequently performing in a trio with pianist Emanuel Ax and violinist YoungUck Kim. Ma and Ax received great acclaims with their recordings of Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. Mr. Ma was a cellist, and as you know cello music is limited, so he decided to start writing his own music. He had won 14 Grammy Awards and has recorded more than 75 albums. His music is mostly classical but he has done other styles. Some of his other styles include country and childrens albums. Then, in 2000, he worked on a soundtrack with a Chinese composer of the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original score. Yo Yo Ma, in 2001, founded the Silk Road Project. It studies the cultural, artistic, and intellectual traditions along Marco Polos ancient Silk Road. The Silk Road was a set of long trading routes that connected Europe and Asia. When Mr. Ma founded the Silk Road Project he hoped to connect the musical cultures of the United States of America, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Ma wanted to show how music and cultures from these different parts of the world can mix, unite, and influence each other. Yo Yo Ma and his wife Jill have two children named Nicholas and Emily. Mr. Ma plays two very old cellos, a Davidoff Stardivarius and a Montagnana. The Montagnana was made in Venice in 173. The Davidoff Stardivarius was made in 1712 and once belonged to another famous cellist named Jacqueline du Pre. Songs of Joy and Peace is Yo Yo Mas latest album. He invited many of his favorite artist from around the world, artists of different styles of music. He used Songs of Joy and Peace to give new life to his music. He wanted his listeners to experience the idea of combining familiar material with songs that would offer the listener the gift of discovery performed by old and new artists. It celebrates things like hope, dream, and universal good cheer. It also celebrates all the different holidays in the winter time such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Kwanzaa, Yuletide, Winter Solatice, New Years, and Ramadan. Yo Yo Ma was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Presidents Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The Presidents Committee on the Arts and Humanities focuses on arts and humanities education and cultural diplomacy. Mary Schimdt Campbell was appointed as Vice Chair of the committee. George Stevens, Jr. And Margo Lion were also appointed to serve as Co-Chairs. Whenever Yo Yo Ma plays some of his music, he tries to find connections that

stimulate the imagination. Mr. Ma is always searching for new ways to communicate with audiences. He is an outstanding performer and will always be. Yo Yo Mas music relates to the music scene today in a lot of different ways. His music is beautiful and gives you magical thoughts. He keeps the music today classic. Without music like his everything would be rap or hip hop by now. Sometimes they even blend classical music such as Yo Yo Mas with newer versions of music. Yo Yo Ma also touches the hearts of young new musicians. Often, I meet young people getting really involved in music early. You know, the child-prodigy syndrome. Based on my own experience, I tell these kids and their parents: Remember that what you do between the ages of, say, 12 and 21 is creating your emotional bank account. Youll be withdrawing from that account the rest of your life, so make sure you put in stuff that really counts. If you do nothing but tour during those years, if you are center stage from concert hall to hotel to limo rides to the airport, that is what you will be withdrawing from because that is all youll know. These were words straight from Yo Yo Mas mouth during an interview. He helps people understand that music is not a job of his, but a passion. He understands that everyone wants to be able to play an instrument and make beautiful music and that some people dont, and are gifted in other areas. Yo Yo Mas music is very soothing and wonderful to listen to. It fills your heart with joy and peace. This is how Yo Yo Ma influences the music scene today. He shows how wonderful music can be and how magical the experience is to hear it. In my opinion, Yo Yo Ma is a great performer. He understands music in a way others do not. Although Yo Yo Ma is gifted in music he was not a child prodigy. He worked to be as good as he is today. This is why Yo Yo Ma inspires me to work hard. He teaches me discipline and that nothing is just handed to you.