Sergio A. Mims: Times of London: Sheku Kanneh-Mason: meet classical music’s 18‑year‑old superstar

Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his parents, Stuart and Kadie

STEVE MORGAN FOR THE TIMES

Times of London

The cellist has never even been to the Proms. Now he’s their next star soloist

Neil Fisher

August 18 2017, 12:01am, 

It’s an anxious time for many 18-year-olds. But yesterday Sheku Kanneh-Mason didn’t need to worry about his music, maths and physics A-level grades. He did get an A* in music, but he already had an unconditional place at the Royal Academy of Music in London and he has a ticket to the Proms at the end of the month. It’s no post-exams summer treat, however, because the gifted cellist will be the star soloist. Freshers week preparations will have to wait.

Kanneh-Mason — surely destined to be known simply as “Sheku” — has never even been to the BBC Proms as an audience member (“which is really bad, I guess,” he says, sheepishly) so the Nottingham-raised musician doesn’t know what to expect. “But I’ve watched a lot of them on TV and I’ve been told the atmosphere is incredible.” Chances are, however, that it’s going to be a particularly wild night, as he will also be the poster boy for Chineke!, the UK’s first BME (black and minority ethnic) orchestra, which is also making its Proms debut in the late-night event on August 30.

The Times