Mapperley Park cello star Sheku Kanneh-Mason awarded MBE in New Year’s Honours List 2020

A young musician from Mapperley Park who played at the wedding of the Duke of Sussex has been appointed an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2020.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason is a young cellist who has been in high demand from major orchestras and concert halls worldwide since winning the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year and became the first black musician to win the competition in its 38-year history.                

Upon hearing he’s been awarded the MBE for services to music, the young cellist told the BBC: “I was so lucky to have the dedicated support of my parents in giving me the opportunity to have specialist music lessons from a young child.

“I also had incredible support from the state schools I attended in Nottingham where music was promoted for its value in developing listening skills, teamwork, self-expression and hard work.”

The MBE caps a rapid rise to prominence for Mr Kanneh-Mason.

The 20-year-old’s debut recording Inspiration went to Number 1 in the Classical Chart and number 18 in the Official UK Album Chart, making Sheku the young cellist in history to reach the Official UK Album Chart Top 20.

At 19, he has performed at a range of high-profile events at the Royal Albert Hall, including the BBC Proms with the Chineke! Orchestra and the Bafta Awards Ceremony. He played at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Windsor Castle, to an audience of nearly two billion people globally.

He is passionate about the importance of making classical music accessible to all and is currently the first London Music Masters Junior Ambassador and will become ‘Young Artist in Residence’ at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic taking a key role in the orchestra’s education programme.

On hearing that a rise of tuition costs at his old school was going to prevent other young cellists from continuing to receive cello lessons, Sheku donated £3,000 to Trinity Catholic School, Nottingham, in September 2017, ensuring that 10 other young people could continue lessons for the next three years.

Mr Kanneh-Mason is currently a full-time scholar at the Royal Academy of Music in London and maintains a busy performing schedule.