Sergio Mims: NottinghamPost.com: BBC Young Musician of the Year donates money to his school to save music teaching [Sheku Kanneh-Mason]

Sheku Kanneh-Mason

(Matt Fear)

Sergio A. Mims writes:

Sheku Kanneh-Mason BBC Young Musician of the Year donates money to his school to save music teaching.

Sergio 

Nottingham Post

by Hannah Mitchell

 

September 12, 2017

BBC Young Musician of the year Sheku Kanneh-Mason - who has recently departed from Trinity Catholic School in Aspley - has left behind a legacy which will help future musicians at the school.

The 18-year-old cellist from Mapperley Park has started his course at the Royal Academy of Music in London, but before he left, he gifted a lump sum of money to his former school after it became clear the music department was under threat.

After hearing that funding cuts could see cello teaching come to a halt at his school, he decided to take action and gave £3,000 to the school.

The money, which was saved up by Sheku from cello concerts, will ensure that cello teaching continues for the next three years.

Sheku, who recently celebrated his A-level success, said: “I have had amazing opportunities at Trinity School, and to see other children not have the same opportunities as I had would be a huge shame.

“Being a cellist myself the department of music is something that is close to my heart and I couldn’t see it go,especially when I knew I could do something about it.

“I didn’t really have to think about it, I knew it was the right thing to do.”

Funding cuts at the school led to certain aspects being put under review. One of these was music teaching and Sheku decided that he could help.

Sheku’s mum, Kadie Mason said that her son was heart broken when he heard the teaching of cello could be stopped.

She said: “Sheku was heartbroken when he heard that cello teaching was to be taken away at Trinity School.

“He treasures his years at the school and feels that while he was there music was at the heart of Trinity and led to the atmosphere of cooperation, mutual respect and attainment.

“Sheku would like to help ensure the continuation of the opportunities he had at Trinity and allow other pupils to benefit from learning a musical instrument, particularly the cello.