Royal wedding cellist Kanneh-Mason wins awards

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the 19-year-old cellist who won a legion of fans around the world when he played at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding last month, has added to his list of accolades, scooping two prizes at the Classic BRIT Awards in London.

Kanneh-Mason, who won 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year, was named Male Artist of the Year as well as Critics Choice at the ceremony in London on Wednesday night celebrating classical music in theatre, film, television and games.

The cellist was catapulted into the global spotlight at the May 19 wedding in Windsor, where, accompanied by an orchestra, he played Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria, Gabriel Faure’s Apres un Reve and Sicilienne by Maria Theresia von Paradis.

Also at the Classic British Record Industry Trust (BRIT) Awards ceremony, American soprano Renee Fleming won Female Artist of the Year, while singers Michael Ball and Alfi Boe were named Group of the Year.

Veteran British singer Vera Lynn, who performed for British troops during the Second World War, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli was named Classic BRITs Icon.

Other honourees included composer Andrew Lloyd Webber who took a Special Recognition Award for Musical Theatre and Education.