Tootsall

Cellist Yo Yo Ma named UN peace ambassador
Updated Sat. Jan. 14 2006 11:39 PM ET

Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Kofi Annan said world renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma will take on a new role as a UN peace ambassador.

Annan met the 50-year-old musician on Thursday and told reporters afterward "he will be a peace envoy."

Ma was born in Paris to Chinese parents and was a child prodigy on the cello when he moved to the United States at the age of seven. By the time he graduated from Harvard University in 1976, he was already an internationally acclaimed cellist.

One of the most sought-after cellists in the world, Ma has won more than a dozen Grammy awards.

As a UN messenger of peace, Ma will join Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, boxing great Muhammad Ali, actor Michael Douglas, primate expert Jane Goodall and others in championing what Annan says is the world body's most urgent and important task: promoting peace.

Liad Bar-EL

Music can be used to help create peace for sure.

In this case, I hope that he will give free benefit concerts for peace so that more people would be able to enjoy and benefit from his music of peace.

Liad Bar-EL