Not many 19-year-olds can say they have won BBC Young Musician, or that they have performed at the BAFTAs (twice), or that they have been personally asked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to perform at their wedding ceremony. British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason can say he’s experienced all three.
Read on for a guide to this extraordinarily talented performer, and in brief to the unique musical family of which he forms a part.
Who is Sheku Kanneh-Mason?
Sheku Kanneh-Mason is perhaps the UK’s best known cellist, and indeed one of our best known classical musicians full stop.
He first emerged into the spotlight on winning the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year Award – the first black musician to win the award since it was created in 1978. Sheku triumphed in a vintage final that year – his fellow finalists were horn player Ben Goldscheider and saxophonist (and now presenter) Jess Gillam.
How old is Sheku Kanneh-Mason?
Sheku was born on 4 April 1999 in Nottingham. His parents are Stuart Mason, a luxury hotel business manager originally from Antigua in the West Indies, and Dr. Kadiatu Kanneh, a lecturer and author originally from Sierra Leone.
Where is Sheku Kanneh-Mason from?
Sheku grew up in Nottingham in a family where music was the common language. The third of seven children, he started learning the cello at the age of six.
He has a huge passion for his instrument, and for learning new repertoire. As he told BBC Music Magazine: ‘Every time you perform a masterpiece you learn something new about it, I like that process. There will always be new repertoire to explore and I’ll be doing that for the rest of my life.’
His debut disc Inspiration reached number 18 in the UK Albums Charts and number one on the UK classical albums chart. In 2016, Sheku took part in a BBC Four documentary, titled Young, Gifted and Classical: The Making of a Maestro. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London with revered cellist Hannah Roberts.
A deep love of Elgar
His album with the London Symphony Orchestra under Simon Rattle, in which he performed Elgar‘s iconic Cello Concerto, made chart history. Kanneh-Mason becoming the first cellist to ever reach the top 10 of the UK official album chart. He nominated the Elgar Cello Concerto as one of the pieces of music that have shaped his life and career. He’s not the first British cellist to feel a deep affinity for this raw, emotional piece: the great Jacqueline du Pré famously made the work her own.
His recording of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, with violinist Nicola Benedetti and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, was chosen as our Concerto Choice in the July 2024 issue.
Who are the Kanneh-Mason siblings?
Sheku’s siblings include pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, both of whom will be joining him in performances at the 2024 BBC Proms. Other siblings include pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, who’s recently earned herself a recording deal with Sony Classical.
What did Sheku Kanneh-Mason perform at Prince Harry’s wedding?
At the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Sheku performed three pieces on the cello, including Fauré‘s Après un rève and Schubert‘s setting of Ave Maria.
Was Sheku excited to play at the Royal Wedding? His Twitter post following the announcement says it all. ‘I was bowled over when Ms Markle called me to ask if I would play during the ceremony, and of course I immediately said yes!!! What a privilege. I can’t wait!’
What did he perform at the BAFTAS?
Harry and Meghan’s wedding wasn’t the only time that Sheku performed in front of Royalty. At the 2017 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, he played a version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah to an audience including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Kanneh-Masons at the 2024 BBC Proms
Sheku joins his brother Braimah for two performances at this year’s Proms. On Sunday 4 August, the siblings join the guitarist Plínio Fernandes, plus the Fantasia Orchestra and their conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh, for a programme of chamber arrangements of pop, classical and folk music including piece by Bartók and Brahms, as well as the classic folk song ‘Scarborough Fair‘.
Then, on the following day (Monday 5 August), the same forces reunite for a Relaxed Prom performance of selected pieces from the night before, in company with presenter (and Sheku’s old Young Musician co-finalist) Jess Gillam.
Pic: Jake Turney