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Royal wedding music: cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason to perform at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding
30 April 2018, 15:15 | Updated: 15 May 2018, 14:59
The brilliant young cellist will be one of the soloists at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May
It has been announced that Sheku Kanneh-Mason will be among the performers at the Royal Wedding, to be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor on 19 May.
Kensington Palace also announced that the Choir of St George's Chapel would perform, directed by the chapel's Director of Music, James Vivian.
Gospel conductor Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir will also perform at the service.
19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, winner of 2016 @BBCYoungMus. Last June, Prince Harry saw Sheku play at an event in London in support of the work of Antiguan charity the Halo Foundation. pic.twitter.com/C3QSfcbXJl
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 24, 2018
Sheku released his debut album, Inspiration, earlier this year and he's performed at the Baftas twice – the only musician to have ever been invited to perform two years in a row.
He said in a tweet: "I'm so excited and honoured to perform at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. I was bowled over when Ms Markle called me to ask if I would play during the ceremony."
I’m so excited and honoured to perform at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. 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!!! What a privilege. I can’t wait! https://t.co/TU0lyKloCD
— Sheku Kanneh-Mason (@ShekuKM) April 24, 2018
James Vivian said: "The Choristers, Lay Clerks, Organists and I are very much looking forward to this exciting day and are pleased to be performing at the service music chosen by the couple."
An orchestra of musicians will be conducted by Christopher Warren-Green and made up of musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra and the BBC National Orcehstra of Wales.
Christopher Warren-Green also conducted at the wedding of the Duke of Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
He recently told The Telegraph that the music would have an American slant:
“The theme, just like anybody's wedding, has to reflect something, and what that something is I'm not going to say. I think I can say to you that there will, of course, be quite an American slant on this one, because we're about to get a brand new, and wonderful princess.”
God will be their light - Nico Muhly (b.1981)ANNOUNCEMENT 💍💐🥂🎊 We are delighted and excited to be able to say that, as a small part of the larger St George’s Chapel Choir, next week we will be singing at the wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle, here in Windsor Castle. And to toast the happy couple, here is the second of our recent commissions: Nico Muhly’s ‘God will be their light’. Watch this space for more videos coming next week!
Posted by The Queen's Six on Wednesday, 9 May 2018
Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, trumpeter David Blackadder and organist Luke Bond will also perform at the service.
Find out more about the music that will be featured at the service here.
The whole service will be recorded and released on Decca Records on 19 May (digital) and 25 May for physical copies.
