Yo-Yo Ma at New River Gorge: Exploring West Virginia’s Past and Future

How is culture helping to forge new relationships with land as we shift from a time of extraction to one of exchange? What can we learn about collaboration, harmony, and change from one of the oldest rivers in the world?

In September 2022, Yo-Yo Ma traveled to West Virginia — home of the New River Gorge National Park — for two days of music, meals, and conversation exploring these questions.

APPALACHIAN MEAL SHARING AT LOST CREEK FARM

Photo by Austin Mann

For his first evening in West Virginia, Yo-Yo joined community and cultural leaders and chefs Amy Dawson and Mike Costello at Lost Creek Farm to share a heritage Appalachian meal and discuss the region’s ecosystem and culture, past, present, and future.

PERFORMANCE AT GRANDVIEW OVERLOOK

Photo by Austin Mann

Yo-Yo Ma and poet, artist, and activist Crystal Good performed for visitors at Grandview, an iconic overlook that showcases the river’s horseshoe bend and offers a birds’ eye view of its entire ecosystem.

LIVING HISTORY OF COAL

Photo by Austin Mann

Leslie Baker from the Beckley Coal Mine Exhibit hosted Yo-Yo Ma for lunch with retired West Virginian coal miners at Nuttallburg, a historic coal-mining complex in the park. Surrounded by the infrastructure that was once a core part of their livelihoods and relationship to the land, the retired miners shared stories about their lives in a controversial yet important industry for our country. Yo-Yo and West Virginian country/folk artist Kathy Mattea performed for the group.

BIODIVERSITY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Photo by Austin Mann

Yo-Yo Ma partnered with local community organization Step by Step, led by Michael Farmer and Michael Tierney, to invite a group of 10 students from historically underserved communities in Kanawha County to discover the beauty and biodiversity of the New River Gorge.

RAFTING THE NEW RIVER

Photo by Austin Mann

Following the hike, the students were joined by local cultural leaders, artists, scientists, and river guides for a rafting trip down the river. While navigating the river in teams, participants explored the river’s biologically diverse ecosystems, and talked with NPS biologists about how they can continue to work together to build a better future for Appalachia.

CELEBRATORY RIVER PICNIC

Photo by Austin Mann

The river teams arrived at Dun Glen Pavilion for barbecue and reflections on their experience on the river. The evening ended with performances by Crystal Good and Kathy Mattea, as well as the premiere of a new work for Yo-Yo and musician Dom Flemons.