Sheku Kanneh-Mason, take a bow our son.
At seventeen years old, the year-twelve Trinity Catholic School student has swept up the trophy for being a dab hand at knocking out a tune.
A fine cellist, Kanneh-Mason wowed the judges with his performance alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra, in front of a live audience. There were four stages to the competition, with regional auditions and last week’s semi-finals. Sheku, French horn player Ben Goldscheider and saxophonist Jess Gillam made it to the final three, and the final result was decided last night at the Barbican in London.
After the winning performance of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.1, the chairman of the judges, Dobrinka Tabakova, had a few words to say to the BBC: "He was electric. There was something about the way he drew the audience in. In today's society, which seems to be swept by mediocrity, he shows how hard work, dedicated and talent can lift you out."
Damn straight our Dob.
If you’d like to see Sheku Kanneh-Mason in action, you can catch him as part of the Chineke! Orchestra and the JRAM Symphony Orchestra.
Congratulations to the man of the moment, and big ups to all other young musicians in the city.
BBC Young Musician 2016 took place at the Barbican on Sunday 15 May
Nottingham’s Young Creative Awards takes place at Nottingham Playhouse on Wednesday 18 May
The Invisible Orchestra interview
Nottingham Youth Orchestra interview
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
