When Britain’s Prince Harry and American Meghan Markle took their wedding vows on May 19th, a 19-year-old cellist added to the musical pageantry of the royal ceremony. Sheku Kanneh-Mason caught the attention of Prince Harry last June while playing at a charity event in London. Now he’s graduating to a worldwide stage.
In 2016 the young classical cellist made history by winning the BBC’s Young Musician competition, becoming the first black musician to receive the prize. His first album, Inspiration, includes performances of works by his favorite composers. Released this past January by Decca, it's been a huge success.
Along with music of Bob Marley, Shostakovich, Saint-Saëns, and Offenbach, the album features the late Leonard Cohen's anthem “Hallelujah.” This video of Sheku Kanneh-Mason playing Cohen’s hit has become an Internet sensation.