Screenshot via Instagram.
Cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma “Wanted to give back” after receiving his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at a clinic in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, so he spent the 15-minute observation period needed to screen for allergic reactions by performing a free concert .
Ma is a part-time resident of the city of Western Massachusetts and received his vaccine doses from Berkshire Community College. The Berkshire Eagle reported that he “ sat down along the wall of the observation room, masked and socially removed from the others, ” before starting to perform in front of an appreciative audience, grateful for both the life-saving vaccines and the beautiful music that filled the room.
The college shared several photos and videos of Ma’s performance on their social media accounts, writing, “Today at the #MyBCC vaccination clinic, the people who waited 15 minutes for observation were blessed with the musical talents of the one and only Yo-Yo Ma. “
Posts from the world-renowned cellist quickly went viral, with Ma’s name trending nationwide on Twitter Saturday night.
It was far from Ma’s first time using his music to cheer others up during the pandemic. He and pianist Emanuel Ax last fall gave a series of pop-up concerts from the back of a low-loader for rescuers and essential workers, and Ma tweeted videos of herself during the pandemic with the hashtag #SongsOfComfort.
The first # SongsOfComfort post was, in which the Eagle exactly a year ago Saturday called “a poetic piece of circumstance”.
In these days of fear, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort. The first of mine #SongsOfComfort: Dvořák – “Go home”
Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/S28w6OlXiZ
– Yo-Yo Ma (@YoYo_Ma) March 13, 2020
This post has been updated with additional information.
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