Sony Classical has announced the exclusive signing of pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, who records her first recital album in 2024 for release in Spring 2025.
The 22-year-old British pianist has already impressed critics: a BBC Music Magazine review commended her performances as ‘straight from the heart, with care, sparkle and self-possession’ (BBC Music Magazine).
Jeneba’s first recording on the label displays her wide-ranging curiosity for repertoire and individual approach to programming, mixing works by Chopin, Debussy and Scriabin with music by under-represented African-American composers Margaret Bonds, Florence Price and William Grant Still.
One of the remarkable Kanneh-Mason siblings, Jeneba was a finalist at the 2018 BBC Young Musician competition and made her London début in 2020 at the age of 18, performing Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
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‘I can’t remember a time when classical music wasn’t an integral part of my life’
‘I am so happy and honoured to join the prestigious roster of artists at Sony Classical,’ notes Jeneba, who joins fellow pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Khatia Buniatishvili and Igor Levit, among others, on the Sony Classical roster.
She goes on: ‘I can’t remember a time when classical music wasn’t an integral part of my life, and I am a huge advocate for its positive influences and ability to really connect with such a wide range of people. The piano repertoire is enormous and I’m excited to be able to explore it, discovering the old, the new, and to perform pieces by more women, as well as black and minority ethnic composers.’
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Jeneba completes her studies at the Royal College of Music this summer, where she holds the Victoria Robey Scholarship. ‘I’ve wanted to be a pianist for as long as I can remember and it feels like a wonderful opportunity to work with the label and to have their confidence and support. I will look forward to our first recording!’
Highlights of the 2024/25 season include performances with the Philharmonia and Marin Alsop, as well as débuts with the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon, Stockholm Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic. This autumn Jeneba also tours with the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra performing Chopin’s and Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concertos in concert throughout the UK.
Pic: Johanna Berghorn / Sony Classical