© 2026 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Yo-Yo Ma Celebrates 2nd Vaccine Dose With Solo At Clinic

NOEL KING, HOST:

The CDC reports that more than 107 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given in this country by people like Hillary Beshara (ph), who's a nurse in Pittsfield, Mass. She was giving shots at Berkshire Community College on Saturday when all of a sudden, the room filled with beautiful music.

HILLARY BESHARA: And someone sitting in my chair, you know, of course, getting vaccinated was like, is that Yo-Yo Ma?

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

The world renowned cellist was, in fact, in her line. A little starstruck, Beshara gave Yo-Yo Ma his second COVID-19 vaccine. And in return, he offered to play an impromptu concert right there in the gym.

(SOUNDBITE OF YO-YO MA'S "SUITE FOR SOLO CELLO NO. 1 IN G MAJOR, BWV 1007 [PRÉLUDE]")

BESHARA: One of the other volunteers told me she just started to well up in tears. And it was so comforting and so healing.

(SOUNDBITE OF YO-YO MA'S "SUITE FOR SOLO CELLO NO. 1 IN G MAJOR, BWV 1007 [PRÉLUDE]")

BESHARA: And as he ended his last note and stood up and he kind of put his hand to his chest and made a gentle gesture forward, there was just this loud, wonderful clapping from his very appreciative audience.

(APPLAUSE) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.