Kensington Palace officials announced last month that Sheku Kanneh-Mason would perform at the wedding after Prince Harry saw him play at an event in London last year.
19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, winner of 2016 @BBCYoungMus. Last June, Prince Harry saw Sheku play at an event in London in support of the work of Antiguan charity the Halo Foundation. pic.twitter.com/C3QSfcbXJl
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 24, 2018
He stunned the 600 guests at Windsor Castle on Saturday with a rendition of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and other pieces of music.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Here are 6 things to know about the young musician:
- Kanneh-Mason performs with his sister, 21-year-old piano player Isata, and his brother, 20-year-old violinist Braimah, as part of the Kanneh-Mason Trio. His four other siblings also play music. Konya Kanneh-Mason, 17, plays piano and violin, Janeba Kanneh-Mason, 15, plays piano and cello and Aminata Kanneh-Mason, 12, plays violin and piano.
- Kanneh-Mason has been studying cello for 13 years, starting when he was 6 years old, according to his official biography. He is currently a full-time student at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
- Kanneh-Mason was 17 in 2016 when he won the BBC's Young Musician competition. He was the first black musician to take top honors in the competition, according to BBC News.
- He released his debut album, "Inspiration," in January 2018. The album included his arrangement of Bob Marley's well-known hit "No Woman No Cry," which went viral on Spotify.
- Kanneh-Mason has performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the City of Birmingham Symphony and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. He has a number of upcoming performances scheduled, including performances with the Seattle Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
- Kanneh-Mason said he was "bowled over" when Markle called to ask him whether he would play during her wedding to Prince Harry. "Of course I immediately said yes!" he said, according to Vanity Fair. "What a privilege to be able to play the cello at such a wonderful event."
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