Read on for our introduction to that remarkably talented and musical family, the Kanneh-Masons, including among others the cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, all of whom are performing at the 2024 BBC Proms.
Who is Sheku Kanneh-Mason?
Sheku rose to fame in 2016 when he won BBC Young Musician, the first black artist to do so in the history of the competition. He later achieved global recognition when he performed at the 2018 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He is signed to Decca, a label on which he has released two albums: Inspiration in 2018 and a recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto in 2020.
In 2018, he won Male Artist of the Year and the Critics' Choice Award at the Classic BRIT Awards.
How many siblings does Sheku Kanneh-Mason have?
Sheku Kanneh-Mason has six siblings, all of whom are musicians.
His mother Kadiatu has released a book, House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons, about her experience raising the family in Nottingham. It won the 2021 RPS Award for Storytelling.
Isata Kanneh-Mason, Piano
Isata Kanneh-Mason is a pianist, and the eldest of the Kanneh-Mason siblings. Like Sheku, she is signed to Decca Classics.
In 2019, Isata released her debut recording on the label: a collection of piano works by Clara Schumann. She and Sheku performed together as a duo at the 2020 BBC Proms, and she has a postgraduate degree from the Royal Academy of Music.
You can listen to our interview with Isata Kanneh-Mason on the Music to my Ears podcast here. In it, she talks about the music and artists who have made her who she is today, from Beyoncé to Yuja Wang.
Braimah Kanneh-Mason, Violin
Braimah is often seen performing onstage in a trio with Isata and Sheku, and is also part of the Chineke! Orchestra, the leading UK ensemble made up of BME musicians. He learns with violinist Jack Liebeck.
Konya Kanneh-Mason, Violin
Konya is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music, where all her elder siblings have also studied.
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Piano and Cello
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason is studying at the Royal College of Music, where she is focusing on the piano. In 2018, she was a Keyboard Finalist in BBC Young Musician. She plays in the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, and is set to be making her debut with Chineke! in the near future. She has also recently signed to Sony Classical.
Aminata Kanneh-Mason, Violin
Aminata has achieved Grade 8 Distinction on both the violin and piano, and often performs in concert with her siblings.
Mariatu Kanneh-Mason, Cello
Mariatu is the youngest Kanneh-Mason sibling, so was too young to join them in 2015 when the family appeared on Britain's Got Talent. She is learning the piano and cello, the latter of which she has achieved her Grade 8 Distinction in.
Where do the Kanneh-Masons live?
The Kanneh-Mason family are based in Nottingham, UK, where they performed together as children. They travelled into London on Saturdays to attend the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music. The older siblings have gone on to study at the Academy at undergraduate level.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason is dressed by fellow Nottingham legend Paul Smith.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason at the 2024 BBC Proms
Sheku appears twice at the 2024 BBC Proms, both times alongside his violinist brother Braimah. For Prom 20 on Sunday 4 August, the duo are joined by Plínio Fernandes (guitar), the Fantasia Orchestra and conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh for a programme including arrangements of songs by Burt Bacharach and Bob Marley, chamber music by Bartók and Brahms, and an arrangement of the much-loved folk song 'Scarborough Fair'.
Then, for Prom 22 (a Relaxed Prom), on the morning of Monday 5 August, Sheku and Braimah join up with the same forces for a concert presented by saxophonist Jess Gillam.
Isata Kanneh-Mason at the 2024 BBC Proms
Sheku's sister Isata has a big gig at the 2024 BBC Proms: she is performing at the First Night (Friday 19 July). She joins soprano Sophie Bevan, the BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Elim Chan in a lineup including Handel, arr. Mackerras Music for the Royal Fireworks: Overture, Bruckner Psalm 150, Clara Schumann Piano Concerto, Ben Nobuto Hallelujah Sim. (BBC commission: world premiere), and Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor.