“Yo-Yo Ma is part modern Marco Polo, an explorer of cultures far beyond his own; part musical missionary, eager to share ideas and make vital connections between peoples.” (Chicago Tribune) Founded by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, the Silk Road Project is about “seeing the world’s multiple perspectives, stirring the imagination, getting people to dream.” It has been a catalyst for a new kind of conversation, opening avenues of inter-cultural communication and collaborative thinking. For about 2,000 years the Silk Road was the main conduit for the spread and exchange of goods, ideas, religions, and culture, connecting people from Asia to the Mediterranean. The collective is drawn from internationally renowned musicians who share traditions from various cultures and develop and perform new music and multimedia pieces, exploring and expanding contemporary music crossroads. Yo-Yo Ma believes that “when we enlarge our view of the world, we deepen our understanding of our own lives and culture.”

At this concert, Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project will be recognized as recipients of the 2013 UMS Distinguished Artists Award, presented as part of the Ford Honors Program. Details about a gala dinner to benefit UMS education and community engagement programs will be announced later this fall.