_{By McKinsleigh Smith
Photo By Jason Bell}

Yo-Yo Ma, the genre-crossing, culture-shaping cellist, will take the stage for a sold-out performance tonight at the Brigham Young University Concert Hall. This special gala marks milestones for BYU and the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications, who are celebrating their 150th and 100th anniversaries, respectively.

With more than 120 albums under his belt, Ma’s career refuses easy categorization. One minute he’s breathing new life into Bach; the next, he’s collaborating across borders and traditions on something like The Goat Rodeo Sessions with Chris Thile of Nickel Creek/Punch Brothers.

Innovation is the throughline of a career that’s earned him everything from Grammys to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Ma’s left an important mark on Utah over the years. He played a major role in the 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, played the Red Butte Garden in 2021, and joined the Utah Symphony just over a year ago.

Meanwhile, BYU’s BRAVO! series has quietly built a reputation for landing giants. This year alone has already welcomed Joshua Henry (known for his role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton) and internationally renowned Spanish guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas.

Bringing international talent to Provo, Utah is just one important part of building a lasting, sustainable music industry in Utah.