Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma. The name itself just... flows. Like a cello concerto, or perhaps a particularly smooth brand of yogurt. Born in Paris to Chinese parents, Ma began playing the cello at age four, proving that some people are just born unfairly good at things. He moved to New York at seven, where he presumably continued to excel at everything he attempted, much to the chagrin of his less musically inclined peers.

Ma's career is a relentless march of achievements: Grammy Awards, presidential medals, and enough honorary doctorates to open a small, very cultured university. He's played for presidents, performed on Sesame Street, and probably even serenaded a particularly discerning houseplant or two. His Silk Road Ensemble project aims to promote cultural understanding through music, which is a noble goal, but let's be honest, it's also a great excuse to play even more beautiful music.

So, is he Jewish? Not by any stretch of the imagination, unless there's a highly secretive, cello-playing, Chinese-French Jewish sect we're unaware of. But does he bring the world nachas? Absolutely. His music soothes the soul, inspires millions, and generally makes the world a better, more harmonious place. Plus, he probably makes all other cellists feel woefully inadequate, which, while not kveering, is certainly an achievement.