Cello superstar Sheku returns with a wide-ranging solo program, October 29 at the Chan Centre

Crossing centuries of music for the Vancouver Recital Society performance, the artist is planning a grand finale with young cellists

By Janet Smith

Sheku. Photo by Ollie Ali

Vancouver Recital Society presents Sheku at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on October 29 at 3 pm

CELLO SENSATION SHEKU WAS last here with his six incredibly talented Kanneh-Mason siblings, ranging in age from 13 to 26 years, last spring—but this time he returns to the Vancouver Recital Society to show how riveting he can be solo.

The concert, unmissable for cello fans, will feature the expressive artist interpreting everyone from Johann Sebastian Bach to young 21st-century Welsh composer Gwilym Simcock. Sheku will play the range of solo-cello works on his rare 1700 Matteo Goffriller instrument—all in the impeccable acoustic atmosphere of the Chan Centre.

The highlight, though? The grand finale, when Sheku is joined by a group of young local cellists in a performance of Pablo Casals’s “Song of the Birds”—the Catalan composer, cellist, and peace activist’s haunting standard for any kids trying to learn the beautiful instrument. That performance highlights Sheku’s outspoken mission is to make music accessible to all. He may have become famous to the masses while playing at the wedding of Harry and Meghan at Windsor Castle in 2018, and his gigs span Last Night of the Proms and the Royal Philharmonic, but he’s just as keen on performing at school halls.

This marks the fourth time the star has appeared with the VRS, making his sold-out Canadian debut with the organization when he played at the Vancouver Playhouse in 2017—pre royal wedding. That he's back is a testament to his connection to the organization—and it's a chance to see how he's evolved and explored, even if you didn't get bragging rights to that first magical performance here.  

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