“The incredible thing about Yo-Yo Ma is that he doesn’t even need his beloved instrument to move and inspire people,” writes Eric Bernsee in Monday’s (10/2) Banner Graphic (Greencastle, Indiana). “That much was readily apparent Saturday before, during and after his performance with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago at DePauw University’s Green Center for the Performing Arts. It was obvious all week during his various visits in and around Greencastle and DePauw. And it’s been evident ever since he first set foot on campus with the Civic Orchestra in 2011.” The Civic Orchestra of Chicago is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s training orchestra for pre-professional musicians. “The personable and expressive Ma—who wowed a capacity crowd Saturday night performing with the orchestra and a wild group of percussion instruments … says … [that] big things, innovative things, joyful things are happening at DePauw and in Greencastle, he says, because of the activities like 21st Century Music Initiative he chairs and the music and musicians and energy it brings to campus and community. ‘New things don’t always happen in big places,’ assured the 62-year-old Ma.’ ”
Posted October 4, 2017
