Yo-Yo Ma Models Humanist Ethos at 70

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who models a philosophy of deep human connection, is 70 and continues to perform globally, using his platform to challenge contemporary trends of isolation and cynicism.

His approach is rooted in genuine curiosity. During a recent interview in Denver, Ma deflected questions about himself, preferring to ask about the interviewer. Former President Barack Obama once noted that for every question you ask Ma, he asks you two in return. This is not an act. Composer Angelica Negron observed, "You can't fake it." Whether meeting a fellow artist, a fan, or a community organizer, Ma is consistently attentive and willing to pause his own work to engage with others.

A Counter-Cultural Philosophy

In an age dominated by algorithmic echo chambers and polarizing rhetoric, Ma operates as a committed humanist. He views people as part of a deeply interconnected ecosystem, linked to each other and to nature. When discussing issues like immigration or education, he frames them as ethical matters rather than political battlegrounds.

A Model of Everyday Conduct

His friend Stephen Colbert sees him as a behavioral model, noting that while Ma's artistic position is "Olympian," his everyday conduct is decidedly not. This philosophy directly informs his public work through his organization, Sound Postings.

Integrating Ethos into Action

Ma rarely makes a tour stop without integrating a community program. These initiatives have included conversations about gun violence in Chicago and farm dinners in West Virginia. He embarks on long-term projects that take him to diverse locations, from national parks to a nightclub in Lebanon. In his addresses to audiences, he blends expressions of wonder about time and memory with concrete worries about the future, particularly environmental concerns.

His artistic drive remains relentless. The night before the Denver interview, he delivered a vivid and freshly insightful performance of Dvorak's Cello Concerto with the Colorado Symphony for thousands at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Yet, even with a career that began performing for world leaders at age 7, his focus remains outward. "There's nobody that's not interesting," he said, explaining his conversational style. The challenge lies not in his fame or his thoughtful, story-filled answers, but in his persistent desire to turn the spotlight onto others.