December 15th 2024.
Renowned British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was forced to cancel his performance in Canada after being denied his pre-booked seat for his multi-million dollar cello. Kanneh-Mason, who gained widespread recognition after his stunning performance at the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at just 19 years old, has been touring North America with his sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, as reported by CNN.
In a joint statement released on December 12th, the musical siblings expressed their deep disappointment at having to postpone their Toronto concert due to the mishap with Air Canada. The pair, who are part of a musically gifted family of seven siblings from England, also shared details of their unfortunate experience with the airline.
"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," they explained to their fans. They went on to reveal that their journey was plagued with delays and cancellations before reaching a frustrating climax when Kanneh-Mason was denied boarding with his cello, despite having a confirmed seat for it on their final flight to Toronto after nine anxious hours at the airport.
The siblings' website also highlights the historical significance and value of the cello, which is on indefinite loan to Kanneh-Mason. The instrument, crafted in 1700 by renowned Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller, is estimated to be worth over $3 million, according to a short film about it.
"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," the siblings added in their statement, emphasizing the need for better policies and protocols when it comes to transporting valuable instruments.
The management team at EMM Ltd/IMG Artists, who represent Kanneh-Mason, also spoke out about the constant struggles they face when traveling with the cello in the cabin. They described the situation as "frustrating" for artists who are constantly trying to perform in various places. Despite Air Canada refunding all the tickets, the team has yet to receive an apology for the error that led to over a thousand people having their concert tickets canceled.
"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. We would welcome some constructive discussion with the airline industry body," the management team stated. They hope for a change in the industry and more consideration for musicians and their instruments in the future.
In the wake of the cancellation, many have been reminded of the challenges that musicians, especially those with large and valuable instruments, face when traveling. Despite the disappointment and inconvenience, Kanneh-Mason and his sister remain determined to continue sharing their musical talents with the world.
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