Yo-Yo Ma in Recital on Feb 22, 2026 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

“Aside from being the most famous cellist alive, he is a musician of immense conscience, a wholeheartedly earnest presence who tends to bring out the best in whatever company he is in.” The New York Times

“An extraordinary artist and a true musical genius… Every time he shares his music, it is a master class in love.” – Stevie Wonder

Beloved by Santa Barbara audiences and returning once again to Arts & Lectures, legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma offers a rare opportunity to experience a full solo recital program. This singular evening features three new works commissioned specially for Yo-Yo Ma by A&L. Genre-defying South African cellist Abel Selaocoe contributes a piece rooted in African ideals and expressing the universality of the natural world. Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw’s composition imagines a sound that has, in her words, “never been heard before but has always existed.” The program culminates in a new piece drawing on music that Yo-Yo Ma has encountered during his recent and ongoing exploration of the ways that culture can reinvigorate our connection to the natural world, with a particular focus on water. This one-night-only performance is sure to sell out.

An Arts & Lectures Commission