Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the renowned British cellist, is no stranger to the spotlight, having performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and winning the 2016 BBC Young Musician award. A graduate of the London Royal Academy of Music, Kanneh-Mason, along with his sister Isata, is currently on a “Winter Tour” across North America. However, their performance in Toronto on December 11th was unexpectedly canceled due to an issue with Air Canada.
Kanneh-Mason, who had pre-booked and paid for a seat for his 324-year-old cello, was denied boarding at the gate by Air Canada staff, despite having made the necessary arrangements. The airline’s policy states that musical instruments can be brought on board if they meet specific size and weight limits: no more than 162.5 centimeters (64 inches) in length and 36 kilograms (80 pounds). Kanneh-Mason’s cello, unfortunately, did not meet these conditions, even though a seat had been purchased for it.
The siblings expressed their disappointment and frustration through an Instagram post, explaining that after delays and cancellations, the final attempt to board with the cello was denied. As a result, their concert in Toronto had to be canceled, affecting over 1,000 concertgoers.
“We were deeply saddened not to be able to perform for you at Koerner Hall last night. We had severe misfortune with the flights and tried our very best to reach you,” the duo stated on social media. “After nine anxious hours at the airport, we realized our journey wasn’t going to be possible.”
They also expressed hope for a future where airlines have a standardized approach to handling valuable musical instruments, adding, “We can only dream of a time when all airlines have a standardized, global, and carefully considered approach to the carriage of precious instruments that are booked to travel in the cabin.”
Although Air Canada refunded the tickets, they have not yet provided a formal apology for the incident. Kanneh-Mason’s management expressed frustration, stating, “This is a frequent and extremely frustrating experience for Sheku and many professional musicians with instruments that need to travel in the cabin of an aircraft.”
Despite the cancellation, Kanneh-Mason’s management confirmed that the Toronto concert has been rescheduled for June 3, 2025. The cellist’s prized instrument, crafted by famed Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller in 1700 and valued at approximately €3 million ($3.15 million), cannot be placed in the cargo hold due to its immense value and fragility, making the refusal to allow it onboard particularly upsetting.
Kanneh-Mason’s decision to protect the cello was informed by the instrument’s historical and financial significance. Since starting to play at age six, his 2018 performance at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding brought him international recognition, cementing his place in classical music history.
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