Jeneba Kanneh-Mason is a British pianist and cellist, born in Nottingham, England, into a family of seven musically gifted siblings. Her father, Stuart Mason, is of Antiguan descent and works as a luxury hotel business manager in London, while her mother, Dr. Kadiatu Kanneh, hails from Sierra Leone and is a former lecturer at the University of Birmingham. Dr. Kadiatu authored the 2020 book House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons, detailing the family’s musical journey .
Growing up in a household immersed in classical music, Jeneba was inspired by her siblings’ musical pursuits. By the age of nine, she had achieved Grade 8 Distinction in both piano and cello. Her exceptional cello exam results earned her the Nellie Greenhill Memorial Prize from the Associated Board for the highest marks in the Nottingham area .
Jeneba pursued her musical education at the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London, studying piano with Patsy Toh and cello with Ben Davies . She later continued her piano studies at the Royal College of Music under Vanessa Latarche as a Victoria Robey Scholar .
In 2018, Jeneba was a Keyboard Category Finalist in the BBC Young Musician competition . She made her London debut in 2020 at the age of 18, performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra . That same year, she gave the UK premiere of Florence Price’s Concerto in One Movement with Chineke! at the Royal Festival Hall, returning to the work for her first BBC Proms appearance in 2021 .
Jeneba has performed at prestigious venues such as the Tonhalle in Zurich, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. She has also appeared at festivals including Rheingau, Cheltenham, Bradfield, and Lamberhurst . Her international engagements include performances with the Calgary Philharmonic in Alberta, Canada .
In April 2024, Jeneba signed an exclusive contract with Sony Classical. Her debut album, Fantasie, released in spring 2025, features works by Chopin, Debussy, Scriabin, Margaret Bonds, Florence Price, and William Grant Still .
Beyond her solo career, Jeneba has collaborated with her siblings on various projects. In 2020, the Kanneh-Mason family released their first collaborative album, Carnival, on Decca Classics, featuring special appearances from Olivia Colman and Michael Morpurgo . She also co-presented a Classic FM radio show with her sister Konya as part of The Kanneh-Mason Family Takeover .
Jeneba is passionate about promoting diversity in classical music. She aims to explore a wide range of piano repertoire, including works by women and composers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds . Her dedication to inclusivity and representation continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
