The royal wedding's teenage cello player skipped U.S. debut to play in the ceremony

[DonViejo]

By Siobhán O'Grady May 19 at 2:04 PM

Sheku Kanneh-Mason had big plans for this weekend. The 19-year-old, who was raised in Nottingham, England, was supposed to make his U.S. orchestral debut as the guest soloist for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Then Meghan Markle called.

“I was bowled over when Ms. Markle called me to ask if I would play during the ceremony, and of course I immediately said yes,” Kanneh-Mason said in a statement from Kensington Palace. “What a privilege to be able to play the cello at such a wonderful event. I can't wait!”

Kanneh-Mason studies at the Royal Academy of Music, and it turns out he had a secret fan: Prince Harry saw him perform in London last summer and took note. Then, shortly before the wedding, Markle reached out to see if he'd be available to perform.

That meant canceling on his Los Angeles plans, and delaying his U.S. orchestral debut until a performance scheduled in Seattle for later this year. Kanneh-Mason seemed okay with that. He relished in the festivities, posting photos of himself being fitted for a suit, and posing with Bishop Michael Curry, the first African American to preside over the Episcopal Church, who delivered a sermon during Saturday's wedding.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/19/the-royal-weddings-teenage-cello-player-skipped-his-u-s-debut-to-play-in-the-ceremony/

[hlthe2b]

1. CBS Sunday Morning did a marvelous piece on this young man and his equally talented 6 siblings!

They are incredible!

The segment will be on their website, I'm sure. Seek it out if you can~!

[Ilsa]

2. He made the right choice, I think.

Not dissing the LA Chamber Orchestra, but he got much more exposure to probably half a billion people who got to hear him play. He has name recognition now, great for CD sales.

[LisaM]

7. I'm sure they were fine with it.

They can bring him back at a later date and get far more exposure than they would have before (I am not usually in favor of not honoring commitments, but this could turn out to be a win for both).

[heaven05]

8. win, win nt

[forgotmylogin]

9. Yeah, international audience is much more significant.

Everyone from the RW is a star now.

[Sophia4]

3. Sublime.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. It was beautiful. I couldn't have been more proud if he was my own grandson. n/t

[OxQQme]

5. His fingers be doin' the 'wobble'.

Can't trust dem fingers.

[calimary]

6. But instead, he got an INTERNATIONAL debut.

It’s like being asked to perform at the inauguration or some such. Delightful to see such profound talent get a showcase like that! Well-deserved!

[AwakeAtLast]

10. So beautiful!

[Sherman A1]

11. Superb!

[Hekate]

12. Wonderful

Thank you so mch for the post

[TNNurse]

13. As said previously,

I believe this was the right decision. Grateful we got to share in his international premiere.

[LisaM]

14. Still not a fan of skipping commitments IN GENERAL.

And I assume the LA outfit was okay with it and that there weren't disappointed ticket holders.

[Cha]

15. Sheku Kanneh-Mason is a magnificent

cellist! It was emotionally beautiful!