“Worried” Yo-Yo Ma Turns 70, Wishes for “Planetary Humanism”
As he turns 70, Yo-Yo Ma is “worried” about the future of humanity.
His empathy is no surprise. Though Ma is best known as the world-renowned cellist who’s brought classical music to the masses via more than 90 albums, the creation of the Silkroad Ensemble and collaborations with everyone from Emanuel Ax to James Taylor to Sting to Chris Thile and Aoife O’Donovan, he’s spent as much time caring for his fellow humans. Ma played at COVID-vaccination sites, is a United Nations peace ambassador and makes regular videos for people and populations impacted by natural and human-caused disasters.
And for his 70th birthday - Oct. 7, 2025 - Ma, in a letter addressed to “friends and fellow humans,” again focuses on others rather than himself, even as he deems himself “worried” about the world the next generations will inherit.
“I try to remember that we are … embedded within nature, and in us, are the seeds of incredible creativity and terrifying destructiveness,” Ma wrote.
“My deepest birthday wish is that all of us humans become constantly aware of these opposing forces within us, and that we actively choose to create rather than destroy. Only then can we be free to imagine, invent and construct a new way of living together. Only then can we live in equilibrium with one another and with our planet, include all the wisdom of the ages, allow awe and wonder to be a part of our lives, and most of all, treat every human being with dignity: a planetary humanism.”
May Ma’s wish come true. And soon.
10/7/25
