A Celebration of Culture and Kindness: Yo-Yo Ma in KC

Last week, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma arrived in Kansas City with a full dance card.

Ma was in town for a master class and several performances at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. He also made a surprise appearance at a “neighborhood” event.

The master class, part of Ma’s work with international artists, featured Turkish cellist Ezgi Karakus.

Karakus, a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, works closely with Harmony Project in Kansas City’s Northeast neighborhood and in Independence, Missouri. The project provides free music lessons and instruments for at-risk youth.

“Ezgi was instrumental in helping us set up our music program,” said Marissa LoNigro, Harmony Project’s project coordinator. “She is a fabulous teacher, and we are so lucky to have her.”

Photos by Serena S. Y. Hsu

[FLEX-CONTENT]

Mayor James, who attended the master class as a guest speaker, spoke of the arts as a way to move past obstacles.

“Music and art help us with our emotions, to get beyond certain places of hate, and to move beyond barriers — warring factions — so that we [can build] together,” James said.

Ma’s surprise visit came Saturday during KCPT’s Mister Rogers Kindness Crawl, one of several events from our parent station celebrating the 50th anniversary of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”.

[FLEX-CONTENT]

Find other Neighborhood-related events here.

Follow Flatland @FlatlandKC.