Yo-Yo Ma to perform at Lincoln's Lied Center for Performing Arts

The Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln announces the upcoming performance of internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma in Lincoln on Sunday, March 21, 2010, at 4 p.m.

"We are so excited to present once again the legendary Yo-Yo Ma with Kathryn Stott here in Lincoln," said Ann Chang-Barnes, Lied Center interim executive director.

Tickets for the Yo-Yo Ma concert range from $50 to $75. Season ticket holders can save up to 20 percent off single ticket prices by ordering early. Because of the anticipated popularity of Yo-Yo Ma, single tickets may be limited.

This concert is one of many world-class events that celebrates the Lied Center's 20th Anniversary Season, and the remainder of the 2009-2010 season will be announced on May 1. Season ticket order forms will be available in early May. For more information contact the ticket office at (402) 472-4747 or visit www.liedcenter.org. The Lied Center ticket office is located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 12th and R streets. The ticket office is open 11 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Celebrating his 30th anniversary with Sony Classical and Sony Masterworks, Yo-Yo Ma has created more than 75 albums (including 15 Grammy Award winners) reflecting wide-ranging interests. He has made several successful recordings that defy categorization, among them, "Hush," with Bobby McFerrin, "Appalachia Waltz and Appalachian Journey" with Mark O'Connor and Edgar Meyer and two Grammy-winning tributes to the music of Brazil, "Obrigado Brazil," and "Obrigado Brazil - Live in Concert." Yo-Yo Ma's most recent recordings include "Paris: La Belle Ãpoque," with pianist Kathryn Stott, "Appassionato," which contains some of the world's most romantic music, and "New Impossibilities," a live album recorded with the Silk Road Ensemble and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also appears on John Williams's soundtrack for Rob Marshall's film "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Across this full range of releases, Ma remains one of the best-selling recording artists in the classical field. All of his recent albums have quickly entered the Billboard chart of classical best-sellers, remaining in the Top 15 for extended periods, often with as many as four titles simultaneously on the list.

Ma is strongly committed to educational programs that not only bring young audiences into contact with music but also allow them to participate in its creation. While touring, he takes time whenever possible to conduct master classes as well as more informal programs for students -- musicians and non-musicians alike. At the same time he continues to develop new concert programs for family audiences. In each of these undertakings, he works to connect music to students' daily surroundings and activities with the goal of making music and creativity a vital part of children's lives from an early age. He has also reached young audiences through appearances on Arthur, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street.

Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age 4 and soon came with his family to New York, where he spent most of his formative years. Later, his principal teacher was Leonard Rose at the Juilliard School. He sought out a traditional liberal arts education to expand upon his conservatory training, graduating from Harvard University in 1976. He has received numerous awards, including the Avery Fisher Prize (1978), the Glenn Gould Prize (1999), the National Medal of the Arts (2001), the Dan David Prize (2006), the Sonning Prize (2006), and the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award (2008). Appointed a CultureConnect Ambassador by the United States Department of State in 2002, Ma has met with, trained and mentored thousands of students worldwide including Lithuania, Korea, Lebanon, Azerbaijan and China. He has performed with and conducted master classes for members of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra. In 2006, Secretary General Kofi Annan named him a U.N. Messenger of Peace and in 2007 Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon extended his appointment.

At President Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, Ma was a featured musician, performing "Air and Simple Gifts" by John Williams. His most recent visit to the Lied Center was in 2000.