Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs at a US-Mexico border crossing to showcase her point of view

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The classical musician has conducted his Bach project on tour in Laredo, Texas, hoping that his music will connect people, regardless of their cultural differences.

"I've lived my life on the borders, between cultures, between disciplines, between music, between generations," said Ma, who played with the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, which connects Texas and New York. Mexico, in the background. "In culture, we build bridges, not walls – a country is not a hotel and it is not full."

Yo-Yo Ma cellist on the Texas border
Ma is one of the most famous cellists in the world. He played in front of eight US presidents and received, among other honors, the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the J. Paul Getty Medal Award. In 2018, he embarked on his ambitious Bach project, a project to interpret Bach's cello suites in 36 locations around the world.
"We live in a world where the possibilities are endless, but we also face daunting challenges, even our survival," Ma said of his Bach project. "I believe that during times of stress, confusion and insecurity, we should share sources that offer comfort, meaning and meaning." Bach does, and when his music touches us, it reconnects us to our common humanity. "

Ma's performance was scheduled as part of a day of action, a joint event involving Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to celebrate the common culture of neighboring border towns. His appearance came as President Trump pursued his goal of building a wall along the southern border of the United States.

After the concert, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz gave Ma a key to the city.

"It was truly an honor to welcome the world's greatest cellist, Yo-Yo Ma," said Saenz, "and his visit reminds us how much culture connects us all."

Ma's next stop on her Bach project tour is in Lima, Peru on April 30th.

Emanuella Grinberg and Artemis Moshtaghian from CNN contributed to this report.

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