For Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the stage can be anywhere: a televised talent show, an elementary school assembly, an underground club, or the world’s most acclaimed concert venues. Wherever he goes, his mission is always to make great music accessible to all. Read on to discover more about his upbringing, accomplishments, and what drives his artistry.
1. He’s the third of seven children from one of the UK’s most talented families.
Born in Nottingham, England, to an Antiguan father and Sierre Leonian mother, Kanneh-Mason grew up in a big, musical family. His siblings—Isata, Braimah, Konya, Jeneba, Aminata, and Mariatu—are all performing and recording artists who play either cello, piano, or violin.
In 2015, Kanneh-Mason and his siblings auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent with Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, earning a standing ovation from the crowd and four “yes” votes from the judges! The Kanneh-Masons made it to the semifinals where they performed a medley of music from Tchaikovksy’s Swan Lake and 1812 Overture, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Clean Bandit’s pop hit “Rather Be.”
Impressed by their genuine joy and skill, Simon Cowell said, “You could be, probably, the most talented family in the world.”
A Family of Musical Prodigies: The Kanneh-Masons | Britain’s Got Talent
2. He was the first Black winner of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Award.
At 17 years old, Kanneh-Mason participated in the BBC’s televised music competition for young musicians, becoming the award show’s first Black winner since its creation in 1978. He competed with Cassado’s Solo Suite for Cello, Rachmaninoff’s Elegie from Morceaux de fantaisie, and Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata.
“While I was playing the Shostakovich, I wasn’t thinking of the competition, just about the music and the performance,” Kanneh-Mason said. “I like taking risks when I play and going with the moment, which makes live performance so special….Going through the process of preparing for each round, learning how to focus on the music above all else, and to perform under pressure—all this is a fantastic learning experience and will improve you as a musician.”
Sheku Kanneh-Mason Winner BBC Young Musician 2016 Strings Final
3. He performed at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding.
In 2018, Kanneh-Mason was scheduled to make his American concert debut with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. But when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex called him with the opportunity of a lifetime, to perform at their wedding, he couldn’t pass it up!
Over two billion people tuned in for the royal wedding, where Kanneh-Mason performed Maria Theresia von Paradis’ Sicilienne, Fauré’s Après un rêve, and Schubert’s Ave Maria.
“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,” he tweeted. “It was such an awesome moment – just really incredible to perform for Prince Harry and Meghan at their wedding! The atmosphere was amazing and I’m proud to have played a small part in the celebrations. It’s a day I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Royal wedding cellist: Teenaged musician Sheku Kanneh-Mason wows guests
4. He’s also an author!
Kanneh-Mason published his first two books in 2025: Little Sheku and the Animal Orchestra, a picture book about a music-filled adventure to rescue a conductor from a dragon’s cave, and The Power of Music: How Music Connects Us All.
In his memoir, The Power of Music, he reflects on the biggest moments of his career so far, unpacks the racism and adversities he’s faced within the music industry over the years, and shares his thoughts on music’s ability to rally people together to bring about positive change.
5. He’s an advocate for music education.
Kanneh-Mason is a strong believer that every child deserves the chance to make music. As an ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, an ambassador for Future Talent, and a patron of the UK charity Music Masters, he champions accessible music education for all ages.
The cellist often visits classrooms and youth programs, where he encourages students to listen deeply, interact with music, and express themselves.
It can sometimes be difficult for young people to develop confidence in their creative potential, and their access to music-making can play an important role in giving a child not only a sense of well-being, but purpose, and a new perspective on what they might achieve in anything.”
As a result of his artistry and outreach, Kanneh-Mason is an appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
A Conversation with Sheku Kanneh-Mason