When the six eldest Kanneh-Mason siblings made it to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015, notoriously critical judge Simon Cowell commented that they were “probably the most talented family in the world”. Given their outstanding accomplishments since then, both as a family and as individuals, Simon appears to have been right.

The Kanneh-Mason siblings | Photography: Jake Turney

Raised in Nottingham, England by parents Dr Kadiatu Kanneh and Stuart Mason, the Kanneh-Masons are seven brothers and sisters aged 13 to 26 years old, all of whom play either violin, piano, cello or a combination. Their names are Isata, 26 (piano); Braimah, 24 (violin); Sheku, 23 (cello); Konya, 22 (piano and violin); Jeneba, 20 (piano and cello); Aminita, 17 (violin and piano); and Mariatu, 13 (cello and piano).

Sheku Kanneh-Mason became a household name following his breathtaking cello performance at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when he was just 19 years old. Two years prior, Sheku became the first black musician to win the prestigious BBC Young Musician award. It has been reported that due to Sheku’s influence, more young people than ever before are signing up to play the cello.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason performs at the royal wedding, 2018

As a family, the Kanneh-Masons have appeared on numerous television shows and won several awards, including Best Classical Artist at the coveted Global Awards 2021. The five eldest siblings performed at the 2018 BAFTA Awards and all seven appeared in the 2019 Royal Variety Performance. Their debut family album Carnival achieved critical acclaim and Sheku and Isata have both released chart-topping solo albums.

After much anticipation, Sheku Kanneh-Mason & The Kanneh-Mason Family will be presented by Andrew McKinnon at Perth Concert Hall next month on the first leg of their Australian tour! This will be their largest tour as a family outside of Britain, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to host them. 

"The concert tour to Australia this summer is the most exciting event on the Kanneh-Mason calendar to date. We have never been to Australia but we have always wanted to go, and to have the opportunity to play there is a dream come true. We are excited to meet our audiences on the other side of the world and visit so many different cities, beginning with Perth. We have been waiting since 2020 to perform in Australia and we can’t wait to be there!" - Dr Kadiatu Kanneh

Don’t miss Sheku Kanneh-Mason & The Kanneh-Mason Family on Thursday 4 August, 7pm. Find tickets and more information.