Yo Yo Ma is the picture of a modern day musician. Growing up in France and then America, he has always struggled to find his individuality. After years of rebellion he finally settled down career, he created the Silk Road Ensemble and went on to win many awards and recognitions. Ma has changed the face of music forever.
Born in 1955, Paris, France, Yo Yo Ma changes classical music forever. His father, a professor of musicology and a composer, and his mother, an opera singer, both knew he was different from the very beginning. Yo Yo Ma had his first musical experience at the very young age of four years of four years old. Originally he wanted to play the double bass, but that was nearly impossible for a four year old to handle, so he had to settle for the cello. Of course, being a musical family, his parents were delighted for little Yo Yo to play an …show more content…
After he married Jill Hornor, he was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to undergo surgery. Despite this major setback in his career, Ma still pushed forward. But every day he is reminded that he is not as young as he used to be. Most of the musicians in the Silk Road Ensemble are around twenty years old. Whenever they are on tour Ma is not able to stay up as late as they are nor is he able to sleep comfortably on the bus (Anderman par.15). He is realizing that his body is getting older in spite of the young fire still within him. Ma has won numerous awards including fifteen Sony titles, fifteen Grammys, and has produced over seventy five albums. Due to his generous contributions Ma received the Kennedy Center Honors from President Obama himself in 2011 (Wong). He has recorded film scores for The Crouching Tiger: Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha. All throughout his career Ma has always pushed himself to do better and to make a difference in the world around
Born in 1955, Paris, France, Yo Yo Ma changes classical music forever. His father, a professor of musicology and a composer, and his mother, an opera singer, both knew he was different from the very beginning. Yo Yo Ma had his first musical experience at the very young age of four years of four years old. Originally he wanted to play the double bass, but that was nearly impossible for a four year old to handle, so he had to settle for the cello. Of course, being a musical family, his parents were delighted for little Yo Yo to play an …show more content…
After he married Jill Hornor, he was diagnosed with scoliosis and had to undergo surgery. Despite this major setback in his career, Ma still pushed forward. But every day he is reminded that he is not as young as he used to be. Most of the musicians in the Silk Road Ensemble are around twenty years old. Whenever they are on tour Ma is not able to stay up as late as they are nor is he able to sleep comfortably on the bus (Anderman par.15). He is realizing that his body is getting older in spite of the young fire still within him. Ma has won numerous awards including fifteen Sony titles, fifteen Grammys, and has produced over seventy five albums. Due to his generous contributions Ma received the Kennedy Center Honors from President Obama himself in 2011 (Wong). He has recorded film scores for The Crouching Tiger: Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha. All throughout his career Ma has always pushed himself to do better and to make a difference in the world around