YO-YO VISITS VALLEY | Overflow crowd ready as Yo-Yo Ma begins performance

WARREN

The historic, free performance in the Warren Community Amphitheater by world renowned classical musician Yo-Yo Ma has ended with an appreciative crowd on its feet, thanking him with applause.

Ma performed solo and with members of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra.

Though a loud clap of thunder stunned the huge, overflowing crowd during remarks by U.S. Rep Tim Ryan before Ma's performance began, it was the last one.

6:38 p.m.

WARREN — Despite a clap of thunder part way through remarks by U.S. Rep Tim Ryan a few minutes ago, Yo-Yo Ma started his performance.

The musicians are receiving a different type of thunder a standing standing ovation. Ma is playing with members of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra.

A huge crowd is overflowing the seating area of the Warren Community Amphitheater.

The crowd appears to be a mix of people who are already familiar with Ma and those who came out based on the lavish praise of his musical and other talents that have passed through the community in recent days.

"I hear he is fantastic. I have never seen him," Geraldine Rinehart of Warren said before the show began of the international classical music icon.

"He's a world-renowned musician you have to hear," said Reid Young, band director at Warren G. Harding High School.

"It's about time they brought us something to wake us up and make people come here to Warren," Warren resident Ophelia Harsch said.

2:57 p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma visited the Butler Institute of American Art today before a planned performance at the Warren Community Amphitheatre.

Ma was joined by New York Times columnist David Brooks and Deborah Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, for a lunch and discussion with representatives from the Mahoning Valley regarding the arts and community creative endeavors.

Ma spent 20 minutes touring the museum with Lou Zona, executive director of the Butler Institute, where he was introduced to the museum’s collection of American artwork.

12: 31 p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, New York Times columnist David Brooks and Deborah Rutter, director of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts arrived at the Butler Institute of American Art this afternoon for a private lunch and discussion on the arts with representatives from both Youngstown and Warren.

At 6 p.m., Ma will perform a 45 minute show at the Warren Amphitheater as part of the Kennedy Center's "Arts Across America" program.

10: 39 a.m.

WARREN — Today is the day that Yo-Yo Ma and the Arts Across America campaign will come to the Mahoning Valley.

The internationally acclaimed cellist and humanitarian will participate in several activities in Warren and Youngstown on Monday designed to highlight and strengthen the area’s arts culture and its ties to the economy.

Today will culminate in a free 45-minute concert with Ma and members of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra at 6 p.m. at Warren Community Amphitheatre.

Watch here throughout the day for updates.