2 degrees of separation...

Yo Yo Ma was in the news recently after being awarded the 2022 Birgit Nilsson Prize, and the award he receives totals...

ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

While I have had the immense pleasure of playing "with" Mr. Ma a few times (meaning I played in the orchestra while he played a concerto), what thrills me most about having met him is the fact that HE has met both Fred Rogers and Elmo. I am tremendously grateful to have, therefore, only 2 degrees (I think? I'm not sure how these things are officially calculated) of separation from them BOTH, and also 3 degrees from Jim Henson (because Jim Henson knew Elmo). And that very cool bit of trivia just might trump a beautifully played Schumann or Dvorak concerto. Maybe.

Congratulations on your million dollars Mr. Ma!