Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma returned to the stage Monday in Chicago, to continue the city's yearlong celebration of the interchange of culture under Ma's Silk Road Project.

Through April 21, Ma will lead a series of performances, workshops, and lectures in the city, with cooperation of the Art Institute of Chicago and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, according to the website of the Silk Road Project.

The April events include gallery performances by the Silk Road Ensemble and joint concerts involving the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a Silk Road Ensemble family performance.

Also, a private event in the "Creating a Life with Music" workshop series for music students aged 11-17 will be led by Ma and members of the Silk Road Ensemble.?

The Silk Road Project is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1998 by Ma, who serves as its artistic director. Inspired by the cultural traditions of the historic Silk Road, the project has a vision of connecting Western and Eastern arts by bringing together artists and audiences around the globe.?

Chicago is the first city in the world to collaborate in such a partnership with Ma and the Silk Road Project.

Starting June 2006, Silk Road Chicago is presenting audiences in the city with a variety of Western and Eastern arts with over 300 performances, exhibitions, lectures and workshops.

The ensemble is a collective of musicians interested in exploring the relationship between tradition and innovation in music from the East and West. Since 2000, these artists have performed a variety of programs in Europe, Asia and North America.?

"The collaboration and creativity that arise when strangers meet have given birth to some of the most extraordinary cultural evolution," said Ma.

Ma was born to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at the age of four and soon after came with his family to New York, where he enrolled in the Juilliard School. He graduated from Harvard University in 1976.

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(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2007)