The Bach Choir of Bethlehem will host renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and classical pianist Kathryn Stott on April 30 as part of the choir’s gala concert and fundraiser, it was announced Thursday.
The 8 p.m. concert will take place in Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Information on tickets and other details will be available this fall and posted at www.bach.org.
The event is scheduled to take place just a few weeks before Greg Funfgeld leads The Choir in May’s Bethlehem Bach Festival, his final one as artistic director and conductor.
“It is an indescribable privilege and pleasure to welcome Yo-Yo Ma back to Bethlehem as a guest of The Bach Choir. Truly one of the world’s greatest artists — his incredible musicianship, virtuosity, passion and humanity have touched and enriched the lives of millions of souls in every corner of the globe,” Funfgeld noted in a news release.
Ma performed Bach’s Cello Suites at The Bach Choir’s Centennial celebration in 1998. He also played Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center in 2010.
Born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris, Ma studied the cello with his father at age 4. Three years later he moved with his family to New York City, where he continued his cello studies at Juilliard. In 1976, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in anthropology.
He’s received numerous awards including the National Medal of the Arts (2001), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010) and Kennedy Center Honors (2011).
Ma has performed for eight American presidents, most recently at the invitation of President Obama at his Inaugural Ceremony.
For the Gala, he and Stott will perform a concert with repertoire to be announced.
For the latest info: www.bach.org
