A few years ago, there was great excitement when it was announced that the Kanneh-Mason family of musicians – seven brothers and sisters, all of whom play piano, violin or cello – would be touring Australia. The pandemic put paid to that.

Now, just over two years later, we begin to see members of this extraordinary family in person. On Saturday evening, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presented the best-known member of the family as the star turn of its Mid-Season Gala. Sheku Kanneh-Mason, barely 23 years old, is the third oldest member of the family and already an international celebrity.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Season Gala, 2022. Photo © Laura Manariti

Millions saw the television coverage of the Royal Wedding from Windsor Castle on 19 May, 2018.  While Harry and Meghan signed the register, Kanneh-Mason, then just 19, played Schubert and Fauré and melted our hearts. (The hashtag #CelloBae went stratospheric!). Since then, he has appeared with major orchestras around the world and has released two chart-topping albums on Decca Classics. The second of these featured the Elgar Concerto from which many sensed that the legacy...