Yo-Yo Ma Performed At A Vaccine Clinic After Getting His COVID-19 Shot

The cellist has spent the pandemic working to inspire comfort and hope with his music.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma brought his instrument along to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic and turned his time in the observation area into an impromptu concert.

The classical music star was getting his second dose of the vaccine Saturday at Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts and treated healthcare workers and fellow vaccine recipients to a cello performance. According to the Berkshire Eagle, Ma lives in the area part time and told local vaccine administrators that he wanted to give back to the community.

The community college shared clips of Ma's short performance, showing the cellist masked up in the school gym. He played the prelude to Bach's Cello Suite No. 1, receiving applause and cheers from the socially distanced group of people who had also just received shots.

It's not the first time Ma has shared his talents with locals during the pandemic. In September, he and pianist Emanuel Ax rode on the back of a flatbed truck to do pop-up outdoor performances for essential workers.

After Saturday's clinic, Massachusetts state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli praised Ma for always giving his best to the Berkshires. "Bringing hope and optimism through his beautiful music," he tweeted.

@YoYo_Ma is always a classy act #intheberkshires. Bringing hope and optimism through his beautiful music. #mapoli #GetVaccinated #stopCovid https://t.co/De0sw5yGni

Twitter: @repsmitty

Although the pandemic halted concerts in cities locked down around the globe, Ma has stayed active. He performed in livestreamed tributes to coronavirus victims and shared resources on social media for artists who have struggled.

In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort. The first of my #SongsOfComfort: Dvořák – "Going Home” Stay safe.

Twitter: @YoYo_Ma

Saturday also marked one year since he began his #SongsOfComfort series, which began with a simple recording shared on Twitter and went on to inspire other musicians to share their work and collaborate even as they were stuck at home. In December, Ma released an album titled Songs of Comfort and Hope.

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