Yo-Yo Ma

Whether you keep tabs on the classical music or not, it would be virtually impossible not to know of world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Some of that might come from his having the same first name as a popular children’s toy, but it’s also because Ma is considered by most to be the greatest living cellist. The Julliard-trained, multiple-Grammy-winning cellist has infiltrated the fabric of pop culture at this point, appearing on everything from The Simpsons to Sesame Street to The Colbert Report. Though it would be easy for someone of Ma’s stature to sit back and rest on his laurels, he doesn’t let his cello collect any dust, continually releasing records, like his 2008 holiday collection, Songs Of Joy And Peace.

Updated 12/15/2009