Sheku Kanneh-Mason became a household name in 2018 after his unforgettable performance at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle, watched by an estimated 2 billion people. Prior to this he was the winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician competition in 2016.

Sheku has now played in each BBC Proms season since age 18 and has also released several albums, with his recording of Elgar’s Cello Concerto making history as he became the first cellist to reach the UK Official Albums Chart Top 10.

In advance of performing a concert with us at Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple on 14 September Sheku will be participating in work with local schools, sharing knowledge and performance with both primary and secondary age pupils. Ahead of traveling to the South West, he will also feature as soloist at the Last Night of the Proms, on BBC TV this weekend!

A passionate advocate of music education Sheku told Classic FM that his own school was a source of inspiration: “I remember coming into assemblies in primary school to the Bach Cello Suites and Dvořák ‘New World’ Symphony, because the headteacher just loved music”.

“One of the most moving things for me, is when someone has been inspired to pick up the cello because of [one of my] performances…It shows the power of watching something as a young person.”

Our Assistant Conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh leads the concert on 14 September at Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple, which as well as Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No 1 includes Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro and Mozart’s Symphony No.41 ‘Jupiter’. For tickets click here