Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Announces Concert with Yo-Yo Ma, 10/2

November 18, 2013 - Chattanooga, TN - The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera is excited to announce a concert date with world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 7:30pm at the Tivoli Theatre. While the programming is still being discussed, the concert will feature Mr. Ma with the orchestra on one piece while the CSO will perform the remainder of the concert.

This special fundraising concert is partially funded by the Robert Bernhardt Guest Artist Fund and will be conducted by CSO Music Director Kayoko Dan.

"We are beyond thrilled to welcome Yo-Yo Ma to Chattanooga next season," stated Dan. "He is one of the most prominent soloists in the world, and it is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to collaborate with him. He is one of my heroes in the music world, and I still cannot believe that I get to conduct a concerto with him as the soloist. Not only he is an amazing musician, he is a very warm person and an educator. It will be amazing to witness what kind of energy and spirit he will bring to Chattanooga."

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age four 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 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), the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award (2008), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010), the Polar Music Prize (2012), and the Vilcek Prize in Contemporary Music (2013). In 2011, Mr. Ma was recognized as a Kennedy Center Honoree.

For a complete bio of Yo-Yo Ma, visit http://www.yo-yoma.com/.Pre-sale tickets will be made available to 2014/15 CSO subscribers beginning in February 2014, and remaining seats will be sold to the general public starting in July 2014. Visit www.chattanoogasymphony.org for updates.

About Us

The mission of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera is to inspire, engage, and enrich the greater Chattanooga community through music and music education.The 2013-14 season marks 81 seasons for the CSO, which played its first concert on November 5, 1933. The CSO, conducted by Music Director Kayoko Dan, consists of top players from the Chattanooga area as well as from across the southern region. The CSO performs a full season of Masterworks, Pops, Chamber, and Volkswagen Series concerts from September through May, as well as a variety of community, education and engagement events throughout the year.