Yo-Yo Ma | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • About
  • 2021 Ceremony
  • Past Ceremonies
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Past Awardees
  • Video Highlights
  • Support
Search
Asia Game Changer Awards
  • About
  • 2021 Ceremony
  • Past Ceremonies
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Past Awardees
  • Video Highlights
  • Support

  • 2020
    • Awardees
    • Recap
    • Video
    • Program
  • 2019
    • Awardees
    • Recap & Photos
    • Video
  • 2018
    • Awardees
    • Recap & Photos
    • Video
    • Awards Dinner
  • 2017
    • Awardees
    • Recap & Photos
    • Video
    • Awards Dinner
  • 2016
    • Awardees
    • Awards Dinner
    • Photos & Video
  • 2015
    • Awardees
    • Awards Dinner
    • Photos & Video
  • 2014
    • Awardees
    • Awards Dinner
    • Photos & Video

Yo-Yo Ma

For a lifetime of achievement, and providing 'songs of comfort' to millions when the world needed it the most

Yo-Yo Ma

Jason Bell


Jason Bell

YO-YO MA

Preeminent cellist; Founder, Silk Road Project

United States

The cellist Yo-Yo Ma hardly needs an introduction. A global icon for decades, he has received countless awards and performed for eight U.S. presidents. He has recorded over 100 albums and won 19 Grammys. But Yo-Yo Ma has never been in it for the accolades — he considers himself a “citizen musician,” always looking for ways to help others. As the coronavirus crisis deepened, Ma found himself, like so many others, unsure what to do. So he sat and recorded a video of himself performing the song “Going Home” by Dvorak and posted it on Twitter. “In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort,” he tweeted, using the hashtag “#songsofcomfort.” The post garnered millions of views — so Ma added more. Days later, he recorded another performance, dedicating it to health workers on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic. Before long, #songsofcomfort had elicited an outpouring of contributions from across the classical music world as well as from musicians including James Taylor and The Indigo Girls. “It's really an invitation for everybody to join in,” Ma said. “This is what we can do for one another and be more communal.”

Citi logo

Details

October 22, 2020
8 p.m. ET

Calculate your local time

Asia Game Changer Awards Virtual Gala

Donate


Press Release

  • 2020
    • Awardees
    • Recap
    • Video
    • Program
  • 2019
    • Awardees
    • Recap & Photos
    • Video
  • 2018
    • Awardees
    • Recap & Photos
    • Video
    • Awards Dinner
  • 2017
    • Awardees
    • Recap & Photos
    • Video
    • Awards Dinner
  • 2016
    • Awardees
    • Awards Dinner
    • Photos & Video
  • 2015
    • Awardees
    • Awards Dinner
    • Photos & Video
  • 2014
    • Awardees
    • Awards Dinner
    • Photos & Video
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2022 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC