Yo-Yo Ma is nothing short of a musical genius. Coming from a musically inclined family, he is a classically trained cellist and songwriter of Chinese descent whose potential was discovered at a young age. H's produced more than 75 albums and has 18 Grammy Awards under his belt. Ma was an artistic director for the traditional Silk Road Project and was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

Continue on to learn about the magical magician who captivates listeners all over the world.

In his youth, Yo-Yo Ma was a natural musician who received early cello and composition training from his parents. He once said in an interview that his father used to wake him and his sister up at 4 AM to teach them music. The cellist claims his father's rigidity and contributed to his success in life. He performed as part of Johann Sebastian Bach's Three Cello Suites at the age of five.

Photography: Instagram/@yoyoma

Ma's career began when he entertained President John F. Kennedy in 1962 and he debuted as a solo performer at Carnegie Hall when he was fifteen years old. A well-known pianist, Emanuel Ax loved his performance and afterward worked with him for many years.

Photography: Wikimedia Commons

After graduating from Harvard, Ma mesmerized audiences with his spectacular shows. Tickets for his gigs were reserved by his admirers years in advance. Great Cello Concertos, Made in America, Soul of Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla, Bach's Cello Suites, and Brahms: Sonatas for Cello and Piano are just a few of the timeless and adored CDs he produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Photography: Instagram/@yoyoma

Yo-Yo Ma has earned the National Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, the Dan David Prize in 2006, and 18 Grammy Awards. The skilled cellist appeared and played on Sesame Street, The Simpsons, Faces of America, and West Wing, among other notable small-screen TV programs. In addition, Yo-Yo was the first artist to play at the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks.

Photography: Instagram/@yoyoma

Ma memorized three of Johann Sebastian Bach's solo suites by the age of five. He uses a Davidoff Stradivarius and a Montagnana cello from the 17th century in his performances. Additionally, from 2010 until 2019, he served as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's first-ever creative consultant. He is a marvel to watch perform, and his love for teaching the youth is second to none.

Photography: Instagram/@yoyoma