SPECIAL GUESTS SET TO JOIN CHESTER MUSIC SOCIETY FOR "CRACKER" OF A CONCERT AT CATHEDRAL

The mother of a famous family of seven classical musicans is set to join one of Chester's top choirs and their special guests for a celebration of the festive season in the historic surroudings of Chester Cathedral.

Author Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason will join Chester Music Society Choir to present its annual "Christmas Cracker" concert at Chester Cathedral on Monday 16th December at 7.30pm. The concert, one of the highlights in Chester's festive calendar will feature a traditional mix of Christmas music and carols for all the family with plenty of audience participation. 

Chester Music Society Choir will be joined on stage by its musical director Graham Jordan Ellis, Chester Philharmonic Orchestra and young choristers from Chester Cathedral's Saturday Singing Club conducted by Tim McLachlan.

Making her debut presenting the special concert, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason will join a whole host of famous names who have previously compered the event including Ian McMillan, Reverend Richard Coles, Roger McGough and Lemn Sissay.

The mother of the renowned musical siblings including celebrated cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason is a is a former lecturer in English at The University of Birmingham. Her memoir, House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons, won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Storytelling Award in November 2021 where it was described as ‘a fresh, moving account of raising children and nurturing their creativity. It went on to win the Non-Fiction prize in the 2022 Indie Book Awards, noted as ‘a joyous celebration of the musical talents of the Kanneh-Mason family, which also serves as a window into issues of race and class in twenty-first century Britain.’ Kadiatu and her husband Stuart were given a Lifetime Award for Contribution to Children’s Arts at the 2018 J.M. Barrie Awards. Kadiatu was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of The Royal Academy of Music in 2022, and in 2023 she received the ISM Distinguished Musician Award.

Her famous family has been the subject of several TV documentaries and in early 2023, along with husband Stuart and all her children, she co-presented and curated their first radio series, The Kanneh-Mason Family Takeover, for Classic FM. Kadiatu is President of the Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Honorary Friend of the British and International Federation of Music Festivals. She continues to write and gives talks, interviews and lectures around the U.K. on diversity in classical music, music education, issues of race and inclusion, literature and parenting.  

Speaking about the concert, John Ferrari, Chair of Chester Music Society Choir said:

"In recent years we have welcomed Ian McMillan, Richard Coles, Roger McGough and Lemn Sissay to present our annual "Christmas Cracker" concert. This year we are delighted to have obtained the services of Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, mother of the celebrated Kanneh-Mason musical prodigies to provide amusing insights into the life and times of five international stars. We are pleased to be once again joined by Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chester Cathedral's Saturday Singing Club and our musical director Graham Jordan Ellis for what will be an evening not to be missed."

Full details of Chester Music Society Choir's "Christmas Cracker" can be found at:  

www.chestermusicsociety.org.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Tickets can also be purchased in person from the Chester Cathedral box office.