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On December 4, members of the Silk Road Ensemble had the distinct honor of performing in tribute to our artistic director Yo-Yo Ma in the U.S. capitol. At the 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala, Yo-Yo was recognized for his lifetime contributions to American culture through the arts, along with singer Barbara Cook, singer and songwriter Neil Diamond, saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins, and actress Meryl Streep.
The gala was recorded for broadcast in the U.S. Tune in to CBS on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) to see the show.
"The Honors are so great for culture," said violist Nicholas Cords. "Such amazing talent comes together on one stage to celebrate the value of the arts. I wish every day could be like it."
The honorees sat in the Presidential Box of the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The final salute of the program was the tribute to Yo-Yo, and percussionist Shane Shanahan's brother Sean was on hand taking photos.
"Yo-Yo has played for other people so many times," said violinist Colin Jacobsen. "To turn the tables and get to play for him, as he sat next to President Obama and the First Lady, felt great. It was an incredibly joyous experience."
“The Silk Road Project Board joins me in saying how very proud we are of Yo-Yo," said Judy Goldberg, our Vice Chair for Programs, who attended. "The night of the Honors event, I was so touched by the feeling of love for him that passed through that very large theater. Watching the tremendous talents who performed in his honor was an opportunity to see the breadth of Yo-Yo’s vision play out onstage before our eyes.”
Award-winning comedian Stephen Colbert spoke of Yo-Yo as a "fearless performer." And Elmo from "Sesame Street" introduced what he called "Mr. Ma's musical playground"—the music tribute that followed. It was called, for the occasion, "Symphony for the Eagle."
A Schubert quintet featured Emanuel Ax, Jaime Laredo, Pamela Frank, Lynn Chang and Sharon Robinson. Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan and Chris Thile played "Attaboy" from their recent alum with Yo-Yo, The Goat Rodeo Sessions. The Silk Road Ensemble performed "Turceasca," music of the Roma people. And composer John Williams conducted all of these performers, along with James Taylor and the Joyce Garrett Youth Choir, in an emotional finale: "Here Comes the Sun."
"It was a touching, beautiful experience," said percussionist Haruka Fujii. "I had tears welling up. It was contagious throughout the house—the entire concert hall was filled with love. I had never felt like that performing onstage before."
"Imagine a dream in which you are asked to honor the most amazing human being and musician in the world," said gaita player Cristina Pato. "Honoring the person that has changed my musical life and sharing that music with his genius friends is something I will remember forever."
"Sharing with that esteemed community our appreciation of Yo-Yo was an incredible honor," said bassist Jeffrey Beecher. "It was also a real joy."
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