Imagine playing a musical instrument bigger than you are. That is what Yo-Yo Ma did at age four. Born on October 7, 1955, in Paris, France, Ma grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and music teacher. His mother was a singer. The family moved to New York City when Ma was young. By age seven, he performed for President John F. Kennedy. Ma plays the cello, a large stringed instrument held between the knees. He trained at the famous Juilliard School and later studied at Harvard University. Ma has won nineteen Grammy Awards, which are the top prizes in music. But what makes him special is not just his talent. Ma believes music should bring people together. He created a group called the Silk Road Ensemble. This group features musicians from many countries playing many styles. Ma has played in concert halls, on street corners, and even at the border between the United States and Mexico. He once said that music is a way to build bridges between people who seem different from each other.