Princeton University Concerts (PUC) continues to take advantage of the unprecedented access to musicians that the virtual concert format allows. On Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 3PM (EDT), 21-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason joins his older sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, for the duo’s Princeton debut recorded live from their family home in Nottingham, England for PUC’s next Watch Party, free for community viewing (RSVP recommended).
Sheku already has a reputation for transcending the screen with his playing, having enchanted over 35 million people across the world playing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Isata soared to the top of the U.K. classical charts with her solo album debut last year. Following a program of monumental works by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Saint-Saëns, the siblings will engage viewers in a live Q&A. This event will be the culmination of an almost month-long focus on the extraordinary Kanneh-Mason family, including curated playlists by several of the seven (!) musician siblings, and an afternoon conversation premiering Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 12PM (EDT) with parents Kadiatu and Stuart Kanneh-Mason about their musical family, the issue of race in classical music, and more, moderated by WNYC host Helga Davis. The duo will also virtually visit with members of the Trenton High School Orchestra as part of Princeton University Concerts’ Neighborhood Project, connecting artists on the series with students in Trenton’s public schools.
Continuing the initiative of partnering with local food vendors for Watch Party events and gesturing towards the Kanneh-Mason’s British background, Princeton University Concerts is partnering with The Simple Stove to offer an Afternoon Tea service available for purchase and delivery to concert viewers. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the Afternoon Tea box will support Meals On Wheels of Mercer County.
