Cellist Yo-Yo Ma will be in charge of outreach programs with musicians and especially with children in Chicago. (Ariel Schalit/Associated Press)

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has appointed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to a new post as creative consultant.

The three-year appointment, which begins in January, will have the acclaimed musician work at strengthening the orchestra's ties with the wider community in Chicago, especially enriching its programs for children.

"In a world that is increasingly complex, we need to tear down artificial walls and bring music to a wider array of people and bring those people and communities to music," maestro Riccardo Muti told the Chicago Sun-Times just after he made the announcement Monday night in New York City.

That's where Muti was presented with the Musician of the Year prize by Musical America at the Lincoln Center.

"I have had the great pleasure and privilege of working with Maestro Muti on many occasions over the past 25 years," Ma said in a statement.

"I am impressed and inspired by his passion, intellect and vitality. Along with his first love, music, Maestro Muti cares deeply about so many important issues of our day — our planet, our children and those less fortunate."

Ma will be leading chamber music residencies that will include other artists to develop more innovative programming while also fostering the growth of younger musicians.

Much of the cellist's work will be through the CSO's Institute for Learning Access and Training that reaches out to children as young as three up to college age students.

Ma has performed with the CSO countless times and participated in the orchestra's 2006-07 Silk Road Chicago project, which brought together thousands of children from the city's public schools with leading cultural institutions.

Ma still serves as the project's artistic director.

With files from The Associated Press