Yo-Yo Ma is a renowned French-born Chinese American cellist and songwriter. Known for his extraordinary techniques and rich tones, he has won 18 Grammy awards in his career so far. He often collaborates with other musicians, from other genres as well as cultures, which has helped expand his audience. Yo-Yo Ma was born in Paris, France, to parents who both excelled in the field of music. He started receiving training in music from a very early age. He began playing the cello when he only was only four and a half. As a child prodigy Yo-Yo Ma gave his first public recital when he was only five. At the age of seven, he even performed for American Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. He has performed for the sound tracks of several well-known films such as 'Seven Years in Tibet', 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' and 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. He has also made guest appearances in popular TV shows, such as 'Arthur' and 'The West Wing'. Other than his works in music, he has also been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2006.
