Instructions
Welcome, Cello Explorer! Today, you'll meet four incredible modern cellists who are changing the way people think about this amazing instrument. Read about each artist, then test your knowledge with the activities below. Have fun!
Meet the Cellists!
Read these short biographies to learn about some of the world's most exciting cello players.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Sheku is a young British cellist who became world-famous after winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2016. He is best known for his beautiful and emotional classical music performances. Millions of people watched him play at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018!
2CELLOS
2CELLOS was a duo from Croatia made up of cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. They became a global sensation on YouTube by creating high-energy videos of themselves playing rock and pop songs on their cellos. They showed the world that a cello can rock just as hard as an electric guitar!
Tina Guo
Tina Guo is a Chinese-American cellist famous for playing the electric cello. She is a master of many styles, from classical to heavy metal. You have probably heard her playing without even knowing it! She has recorded music for huge movie soundtracks like Wonder Woman and Dunkirk, and for popular video games.
Sol Gabetta
Sol Gabetta is a world-renowned classical cellist from Argentina. She is celebrated for her passionate and powerful performances with major orchestras all over the globe. She plays an incredibly rare and valuable cello that was made in the 1700s, and her concerts are always a special event for classical music lovers.
Activity 1: Who Am I?
Match the description on the left with the correct cellist(s) on the right. Write the correct letter in the blank space.
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Activity 2: Cello Vocabulary
Use the clues below to fill in the missing words. All the words relate to the cellists you just read about.
- The type of cello Tina Guo is famous for playing is an E __ __ __ T __ __ C cello.
- Sheku Kanneh-Mason performed for millions at a royal W __ __ __ __ N G.
- 2CELLOS come from the European country of C __ __ __ T __ A.
- Besides pop music, 2CELLOS are known for playing energetic __ O __ K covers.
- Tina Guo often records music for movies and V __ D __ O G __ M __ S.
- All four of these artists are masters of playing __ L A __ __ I __ __ L music, even if they play other styles too.
Activity 3: Your Turn to Think!
Answer the following questions in full sentences.
1. After reading about these artists, which one would you most like to see perform live? Why?
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2. Artists like 2CELLOS and Tina Guo play modern pop and rock songs on the cello. If you could have any song performed on the cello, which one would you choose? What is the song and who is the original artist?
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Answer Key
Activity 1: Who Am I?
- C I performed at a Royal Wedding. (Sheku Kanneh-Mason)
- D You can hear my electric cello in the Wonder Woman movie score. (Tina Guo)
- A We are a duo from Croatia that plays rock and pop covers. (2CELLOS)
- B I am a famous classical soloist from Argentina. (Sol Gabetta)
- C I won the BBC Young Musician of the Year award. (Sheku Kanneh-Mason)
- A Our YouTube videos made us famous around the world. (2CELLOS)
Activity 2: Cello Vocabulary
- ELECTRIC
- WEDDING
- CROATIA
- ROCK
- VIDEO GAMES
- CLASSICAL
Activity 3: Your Turn to Think!
Answers will vary as they are based on the student's personal opinion.