Five times Yo-Yo Ma was way more fun than the average virtuoso musician

Besides his incredible ability to play the cello, Yo-Yo Ma has become known for his amusing escapades. Here are five of our favorite super-fun things Ma has done.

Performed with the Honkers on Sesame Street

In the 1980s, Yo-Yo Ma appeared in a few sketches of Sesame Street. In this clip, Ma performs with the Honkers, characters from the show. Other sketches include one where Ma helps Elmo understand the difference between the cello and the fiddle, and one where he is challenged, by Hoots the Owl, to a jam session.

Met with Wilbur the Wombat

While in Chicago attending a benefit, Ma requested a meet and greet with Brookfield Zoo's Wilbur the Wombat. Peter Segal, host of NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me — a program Ma has also appeared on — snapped the picture of Ma meeting Wilbur.

Performed with dancer Lil Buck

At an event promoting the arts in schools, Yo-Yo Ma performed The Swan with the young L.A. dancer Lil Buck. While Ma played, Lil Buck created an interpretive dance to accompany the music.

Performed for President Kennedy — and the world — at the age of seven

In 1962, Ma performed at "The American Pageant for the Arts" hosted at the White House, at the young age of just seven years old. The legendary Leonard Bernstein introduced the audience to the young Ma and his sister, Yeou-Cheng, who accompanied him.

Performed "Crazy Bus" with Joshua Redman on Arthur

In this episode of Arthur, Ma and Redman work together to help the Arthur gang realize that there is no one genre of music that is best. The episode ends with the two performing "Crazy Bus," a popular kids' song in the series.