My teacher, my great cello teacher Leonard Rose, was such a great cellist, and nurturing man, very patient. But I grew up not only admiring him, but obviously Casals, Rostrotovich, Jacqueline du Pre, and many others, including many of my peers and contemporaries.

The orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta performed in Central Park. Eisenhower and John F. Harper a noted fan of The Beatles played the piano and sang a rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends" while Ma accompanied him on his cello.

He has received multiple Grammy Awards the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Yo-Yo Ma (born October 7 1955) is an Americancellist and virtuoso.