FEATURING SILKROAD ARTISTS

Jeffery Beecher, Bass

Sandeep Das, Tabla

Haruka Fuji, Percussion

Rhiannon Giddens, Banjo, Voice

Maeve Gilchrist, Celtic Harp

Mario Gotoh, Viola

Joseph Gramley, Percussion

Wu Man, Pipa

Karen Ouzounian, Cello

Francesco Turrisi, Accordion, Frame Drums, Cello Banjo

Kaoru Watanabe, Japanese flute, percussion

Michi Wiancko, Violin

Reylon Yount, Yangqin

Yo-Yo Ma conceived Silkroad in 1998 as a reminder that even as rapid globalization resulted in division, it brought extraordinary possibilities for working together. Seeking to understand this dynamic, he recognized the historical Silk Road as a model for cultural collaboration – for the exchange of ideas, tradition, and innovation across borders. In a groundbreaking experiment, he brought together musicians from the lands of the Silk Road to co-create a new artistic idiom: a musical language founded in difference, a metaphor for the benefits of a more connected world.

This initial gathering of artists was rooted in a simple, initial question: “What happens when strangers meet?” And thus Silkroad was born, as both a touring ensemble comprised of world-class musicians from all over the globe, and a social impact organization working to make a positive impact across borders through the arts.

Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, Silkroad creates music that engages difference, sparking cultural collaboration and high-quality arts education to help build a more hopeful and inclusive world.