October Cellist of the Month
SHEKU KANNEH MASON
OCTOBER CELLIST OF THE MONTH
Sheku Kanneh Mason was already a fast rising star in the classical music world when he was asked to perform for the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018. His beautiful performance at the event, seen by an estimated 1.9 billion people, catapulted him into global fame overnight.
Sheku performing at the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018.
FAST FACTS
Sheku is 21 years old.
In 2016, at the age of 16, he was awarded the BBC Young Artist of the Year and was the first Black musician to receive this honor.
He has an exclusive recording contract with the Decca Classics label.
He has six other siblings, all of whom are very talented classical musicians, as well.
His parents are not professional musicians but grew up playing music for fun. They had no idea that their children would all gravitate towards classical music!
Sheku’s Family
Photo credit: Trevor Leighton/Hello! www.dailymail.co.uk.
Sheku has six siblings:
Isata, 24 years old, pianist
Braimah, 22, violinist
Konya, 19, violinist
Aminata, 14, violinist and pianist
Jeneba, 17, cellist and pianist
Mariatu, 10, cellist and pianist
LISTENING!
The performance of a lifetime! Watch Sheku playing at the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018. If you look to the right, you will see musicians accompanying him, led by a conductor.
Here is a family performance from a few years ago!
Currently, they are working on a new album as a family, called ‘Carnival’, which will be released in November of this year. Sheku and his siblings wanted make an album for children to introduce them to some of their favorite pieces. The album features pieces from Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals, in addition to other selections. You can pre-order it here!
This video takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Kanneh Mason family, with interviews of the siblings, their parents, and performance clips. A great watch for how to stay motivated to practice!
Sheku’s Cello
Sheku plays on a cello made in 1610 by the Brothers Amati. This cello is around 150 years older than the United States of America! It was passed from cellist to cellist since 1610 until it made its way to Sheku with a lifetime loan from a generous anonymous donor.
The Amati Family
The Amati family were violinmakers who lived in Cremona (Lombardy, Italy) around the time from 1537-1635. Their workshop was started by Andrea Amati. He influenced makers who came directly after, like the Guarneri and Stradivari families. These three dynastic families all lived near each other in Cremona, and this time period is often referred to as the golden age of Cremonese violin making. While Stradivarius is perhaps the most popular name in violin making, it is in fact Andrea Amati who is credited with being the father of the modern violin. He passed on his craft to his sons Antonio and Hieronymous, known as the Brothers Amati, and grandson Nicolo.
The Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari families made instruments for European royalty. From the outset, these were high-end instruments, meant to be showcased in opulent settings. These instruments have always been regarded as being the best examples of string instruments ever, and their legacy endures today. It is a highly coveted prize to either own or be lent one of these instruments. These instruments often fetch price tags in the millions of dollars, which is why endowments and trusts own many of them and loan them out to musicians. These instruments have stood the test of time and are not just incredible instruments to play, but priceless pieces of history.
Sheku plays on a rare cello built around 1610- four hundred years old!