By Magdalen Ng

Legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma might be one of the world's most renowned and critically acclaimed musicians but, despite being at the top of his game, he claims that, for him, the learning never stops.

'A role model for me would be someone who is always curious to learn about new things, open to ideas and willing to listen, and so I strive to be that way,' the 55-year-old Chinese American says in a phone interview from New York.

Singaporeans will get a chance to see his passion for life, learning and music at first hand when he performs later this month at The Esplanade.

The concerts on April 29 and 30 are part of the 2010 Asia Tour of Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, which also sees them perform in Korea, Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The ensemble is part of an initiative Ma founded 10 years ago called the Silk Road Project, which promotes the study of cultural, artistic and intellectual traditions along the ancient Asian trading routes known as the Silk Road.

Its concerts here also commemmorate the 30th anniversary of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Such is Ma's superstar status that tickets to both concerts are already sold out. When he came to town previously in 2004, he performed to a sell-out crowd as well.

He credits his love of learning to the many dedicated mentors he has had throughout his life.

'It's an incredible experience to have an adult say to you 'I know you', to have someone care about you and guide you. I had plenty of that as a teenager,' says Ma, who enrolled at the prestigious Juilliard Music School in New York at the age of nine.

He adds: 'I have no way of repaying them but I can pass this experience on to others when I can.'

True to this desire, despite a tight schedule, he is squeezing in a workshop for music students from Singapore's School Of The Arts organised by American Express while he is here.

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