The Kanneh-Masons: From Nottingham to the World Stage
Our connection with the Kanneh-Mason family goes back to 2010, when a young extraordinarily talented pianist named Isata Kanneh-Mason gave a showstopping performance as part of the Theatre Royal’s new Live at Lunch series. It was the beginning of a long and joyful association with Nottingham’s world-famous musical family.
Before their rise to international stardom, the siblings were already a familiar presence at the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham. They featured in a one-hour documentary for Notts TV filmed on our stage, performed in several lunchtime and pre-concert events, and were regular audience members at our Nottingham Classics concerts. It was clear even then that it would not be long before they were the ones headlining the biggest stages.
You might well remember the family’s first televised performance together when they reached the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. By that time, Isata had already reached the final of BBC Young Musician in 2014, while in 2016 her brother Sheku Kanneh-Mason went one step further, winning the competition as BBC Young Musician of the Year. We were delighted to support his title bid by giving him the opportunity to rehearse on the Royal Concert Hall stage ahead of the final.
His groundbreaking achievement as the first black musician to win the competition began his incredible journey to the world’s great concert halls, to perform with legendary orchestras and great conductors. From there his career soared, with several major engagements (regularly with Isata), chart-topping album releases and, of course, his unforgettable performance at the Royal Wedding in 2018, which brought him to the attention of some two billion viewers worldwide.
The family’s story has continued to grow. Isata has released critically acclaimed albums with Decca, appeared at the BBC Proms, and won huge praise for her most recent live televised performance. Jeneba Kanneh-Mason has also made her Proms debut and has signed with Sony Classical, while brother Braimah Kanneh-Mason has performed both internationally and at the Proms, including appearances with Sheku and tours with Clean Bandit.
Given their fame, it’s not surprising that Kanneh-Mason performances have been sell-out events at the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham in recent years. and we’re thrilled that the 2025-2026 Season offers three opportunities to hear them live in concert.
On Monday 10 November, Jeneba plays Ravel’s jazz-infused Pian Concerto in G with the BBC Concert Orchestra, whilst her sister Konya performs with Sinfonia Viva in their New Year’s Eve Gala Concert. Finally, there’s a triple treat on Saturday 10 January 2026 when Sheku, Braimah and Isata join forces to perform Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano, again with Sinfonia Viva.
These are concerts not to be missed! Join us in celebrating Nottingham’s most celebrated musical family, live on the Royal Concert Hall stage.
Friday Night is Music Night with the BBC Concert Orchestra
Monday 10 November 7pm
Tickets £15.00 to £42.50
Recorded live for BBC Radio 3, this is more than a concert – it’s a celebration of Nottingham’s next generation of musical talent. Come and be part of a night where fresh ideas meet timeless music.
The BBC Concert Orchestra joins forces with a dynamic group of young creatives from Nottingham’s Universities and Music Hub to co-curate this unforgettable evening of orchestral brilliance. Expect a vibrant, youthful energy as these emerging programmers bring their vision to life alongside conductor Edwin Outwater, Principal Guest Conductor and Curator of the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Sinfonia Viva’s New Year’s Eve Gala
Wednesday 31 December 6pm
Tickets £22.50 to £42.50
Join Sinfonia Viva for their dazzling New Year’s Eve Gala, a Nottingham tradition for nearly 30 years. Immerse yourself in a world of Magic & Enchantment as we ring in 2026 with a spellbinding musical celebration.
The special guest is star Nottingham pianist, Konya Kanneh-Mason. She joins Sinfonia Viva to perform Shoshtakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (Movements 1 & 2), which featured in the Disney sequel Fantasia 2000. This lush, romantic piece is one of the nation’s favourites and was voted no. 6 in this year’s Classic FM Hall of Fame.
Sinfonia Viva
Saturday 10 January 7:30pm
Tickets £12.50 to £42.50
Members of Nottingham’s famous Kanneh-Mason family have appeared several times in previous Nottingham Classics seasons but this performance of Beethoven’s ‘Triple Concerto’ is the first time that three of them will have appeared together on our stage. Written around the time of the Eroica Symphony it’s an adventurous musical hybrid, playfully combining elements of the piano trio with the concerto and presenting the soloists as a collective force against the grandeur of the orchestra.