Yong Ma was described by the New York Concert Review as a player of “Astonishing Brilliance” and he is considered one of the most brilliant flutists of his generation. Ma Yong has earned an impressive list of awards and honors, including first prizes in the 2003 Young Artist Competition of the National Flute Association, the 2002 New York Flute Club Competition, the 2000 Young Artist Competition of the Flute Society of Washington, awards in the 2002 Artist International Award, the 2000-2002 Li Foundation Fellowship and the 1999 Olga Koussevitzky Music Competition. Born in HuaiNan, AnHui Province, Yong Ma studied with Professor Yongxin Wang at the Central Conservatory of Music. In 1998, he was accepted to the Juilliard School, where he studied with Carol Wincenc and Robert Langevin.
He is currently the flute professor of the Shanghai Conservatory of music and is a very active soloist, orchestral musician and chamber musician. He was the Principal Flute of the China National Opera and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Guest Principal Flute of the China National Orchestra, has performed as a soloist and conducted master classes throughout China, the United States, Europe, Singapore and South Africa. He has been invited to be the jury member for many domestic and international competitions such as the 3rd Nicolet International Flute Competition, 2018 Guangzhou International Flute Competition, 2023 Tchaikovsky International Music Competition and others.