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About Us

Ensemble member Yang Wei playing the pipa for schoolchildren at Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland

© RAINER WOLFSBERGER

Engaging New Audiences
Silk Road Ensemble member Yang Wei plays the pipa for schoolchildren at Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland. Residencies in museums and universities allow Ensemble members to take inspiration from works of visual art, collaborate on new projects, and share musical traditions with audiences in informal settings.

Silk Road Ensemble member Kojiro Umezaki and Artistic Director Yo-Yo Ma.

Silk Road Ensemble member Kojiro Umezaki and Artistic Director Yo-Yo Ma

© WILL KRACHER

Mission & Vision

Inspired by the cultural traditions of the historical Silk Road, the Silk Road Project is a catalyst promoting innovation and learning through the arts.

Our vision is to connect the world’s neighborhoods by bringing together artists and audiences around the globe.

The Silk Road Project

Founded in 1998 by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the Silk Road Project is an internationally minded nonprofit arts, cultural and educational organization the promotes innovation and learning through the arts. The Project's activities in concert halls, museums and classrooms take inspiration from the historical Silk Road trading routes, employing the Silk Road as a modern metaphor for sharing and learning across cultures, art forms and disciplines.

The Project presents performances by the acclaimed Silk Road Ensemble, develops new music, engages in cross-cultural exchanges and residencies, leads workshops for students, and partners with leading cultural institutions to create a wide variety of educational programs and materials.

“Every time I open a newspaper, I am reminded that we live in a world where we can no longer afford not to know our neighbors.”
– YO-YO MA