House of Music
Raising the Kanneh-Masons
by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
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Pub Date Sep 03 2020 | Archive Date Sep 30 2020
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Description
Seven brothers and sisters. All of them classically trained musicians. One was Young Musician of the Year and performed for the royal family. The eldest has released her first album, showcasing the works of Clara Schumann. These siblings don’t come from the rarefied environment of elite music schools, but from a state comprehensive in Nottingham. How did they do it?
Their mother, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, opens up about what it takes to raise a musical family in a Britain divided by class and race. What comes out is a beautiful and heartrending memoir of the power of determination, camaraderie and a lot of hard work. The Kanneh-Masons are a remarkable family. But what truly sparkles in this eloquent memoir is the joyous affirmation that children are a gift and we must do all we can to nurture them.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781786078445 |
| PRICE | £18.99 (GBP) |
Featured Reviews
Alison S, Reviewer
As a lover of classical music and a violinist, this was an easy choice.
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason chronicles her family's journey, via Sierra Leone and Antigua, to the present day, with seven gifted children. It hasn't always been easy and there have been sacrifices along the way, but the children have always been their parents' priority.
What you see is a picture of warmth, integrity, fun, and individual personalities allowed to shine within boundaries of loving family discipline and high expectations. All the siblings share with and support each other, and are deeply respectful of the gift they have in common.
Sheku, the second eldest son, won BBC Young Musician in 2016, and now has a stellar career as a cellist, as does elder sister Isata, a pianist. Although the main focus, inevitably, is on Sheku and Isata, Kadiatu is careful to ensure that all the children are mentioned. It is easy to see from her narrative where their love of life, joy, respect, and many other qualities emanate from.
It has been a joy to watch the Kanneh-Masons via the various TV documentaries and BBC Young Musician. I remember watching the final when Sheku won and being mesmerised by his performance. It was a joyous occasion, although fraught with nerves for Kadiatu.
Above all, the story of this family is about belief, being open to what life has to offer, and love. It is a story that should inspire many more young people to engage with classical music.
I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Oneworld Publications, in return for an honest appraisal.
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