[ STOPWATCH TICKING ] >>> TONIGHT "60 MINUTES" REACHES R A NEW HIGH, WITH A BREATH-TAKING CLIMB TO BASECAMP
ON MOUNT EVEREST. >> I AM NOT LOOKING DOWN, DON'T TALK. OH GOD.
OH! IT'S WINDY. I DO NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL. >> WE HIKED 10 DAYS INTO THIN
AIR. >> WELCOME TO EVEREST BASE CAMP >> OUR GUIDES WERE THE SHERPAS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES TO ASSIST
CLIMBERS. WE FOUND THERE'S LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR ON THE JOURNEY TO EVEREST.
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ] >>> THIS IS THE SETTING THAT PRODUCED WHAT IS SURELY THE MOST STATISTICALLY IMPROBABLE
ORY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY. SEVEN SIBLINGS, EACH A VIRTUOSO BY ALMOST ANY DEFINITION. THEY HAVE PERFORMED AT THE
WORLD'S GREAT CONCERT HALLS, RECORDED CHART TOPPING ALBUMS, WON PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS. MEET THE KANNEH-MASONS.
♪
I'M LESLEY STAHL. >> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. >> I'M ANDERSON COOPER. >> I'M SHARYN ALFONSI.
>> I'M JON WERTHEIM. >> I'M CECILIA VEGA. >> I'M NORAH O'DONNELL. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER.
THOSE STORIES, AND IN OUR LAST MINUTE, AN 18-LETTER MILESTONE -- TONIGHT ON "60 MINUTES."
>>> EVEREST, EARTH'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION. AT 29,032 FEET, IT SITS NOT
ONLY AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD, BUT AT THE TOP OF COUNTLESS BUCKET LISTS. 40,000 PEOPLE TREK TO EVEREST
BASE CAMP IN NEPAL EVERY YEAR. THIS PAST SPRING, WE JOINED THEM HIKING FOR 10 DAYS, SOMETIMES ON ALL FOURS, OFTEN
BARELY BREATHING. AND WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE SHERPAS. INDIGENOUS TO THE EVEREST
REGION, SHERPA IS AN ETHNIC GROUP, A LAST NAME AND A JOB DESCRIPTION. OFTEN CAST AS "SUPERHUMAN,"
THEY ARE THE PORTERS AND GUIDES WHO RISK THEIR LIVES TO HELP OTHERS REACH THE SUMMIT -- WITH LITTLE RECOGNITION.
OUR GUIDE, NIMA RINJI SHERPA, IS PART OF A NEW GENERATION HOPING TO CHANGE THAT. >> HIGH IN THE HEART OF THE
HIMALAYAS SITS LUKLA, ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD. >> YOU SEE HOW SHORT THAT IS.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE. IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY SAFE. >> WHERE THE SHORT, UNFORGIVING RUNWAY IS CARVED INTO THE EDGE
OF A CLIFF, THERE IS NO MARGIN FOR ERROR. >> BRAVO, BRAVO, WELL DONE. OH, YES.
>> IT IS THE START OF WHAT WILL BE A 10-DAY TREK TO BASE CAMP -- AT 17,598 FEET ELEVATION. >> I MEAN THAT'S CRAZY.
>> WE MEET OUR PORTERS -- WHO STRAP 800 POUNDS OF OUR CAMERA GEAR TO THEIR BACKS AND HEADS BEFORE SETTING OFF ON THE
TRAIL. >> I GUESS YOU'RE ALWAYS TRAINING. >> NIMA RINJI SHERPA, THE
YOUNGEST PERSON TO SUMMIT THE WORLD'S 14 HIGHEST MOUNTAINS, HAS TREKKED UP THIS MOUNTAIN MORE TIMES THAN HE CAN COUNT.
A VETERAN, WHO IS JUST 19. >> WATCH YOURSELF. >> WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY DODGING ANIMALS AT 9,337 FEET.
PRAYER WHEELS, BELIEVED TO SEND BLESSINGS WITH EVERY TURN, MARK THE WAY. OUT HERE, YOU LEARN THE
MOUNTAIN ETIQUETTE QUICKLY. WHEN YOU HEAR THE WARNING BELLS -- YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY. FAST.
PORTERS OFTEN OVERLOADED WITH ALMOST TWICE THEIR BODY WEIGHT RULE THE FAST LANE. ALL IN, IT WILL BE A 50-MILE
TREK AND 8,261-FOOT CLIMB TO EVEREST BASE CAMP, AN UNGRACEFUL UPHILL GRIND. WE'VE SPENT MONTHS TRAINING FOR
IT. STUDIED THE ROUTE. AND YET, NOTHING PREPARES YOU FOR THIS.
>> JUST LOOK DOWN. >> NOPE, I AM NOT. I AM NOT LOOKING DOWN, DON'T TALK.
OH GOD. OH! IT'S WINDY. I DO NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL.
>> ANOTHER SUSPENSION BRIDGE DANGLES 45 STORIES ABOVE A ROARING GORGE BELOW. >> YOU CAN'T BE SCARED OF
ANYTHING IF YOU DO WHAT YOU DO. >> OF COURSE, YOU ARE SCARED BUT YOU HAVE TO BALANCE IT IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU DO THINGS. >> WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF WHEN YOU GET SCARED? >> JUST TRYING TO CALM MYSELF
DOWN AND JUST REALIZE WHO I AM. >> WITH EVERY STEP, WE MOVE DEEPER INTO SHERPA COUNTRY AND CLOSER TO THE SHADOW OF
EVEREST. >> IS THERE A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO MOUNT EVEREST? >> I THINK IF THERE IS NO
EVEREST, WE WILL STILL BE FARMING, WE'LL STILL BE LOOKING AFTER THE YAKS, THE GOATS. AND THE MOUNTAIN HAS GIVEN US,
LIKE A MEANING TO LIFE I THINK. >> MOUNT EVEREST HAS GIVEN THE SHERPA PEOPLE A MEANING. >> YEAH.
>> ALMOST 150,000 SHERPAS LIVE IN NEPAL, LESS THAN 1% OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION. RENOWNED FOR THEIR ENDURANCE,
THEY THRIVE WHERE OXYGEN IS SCARCE. AMONG THEM, ONE NAME RISES ABOVE ALL.
>> DID YOU GROW UP LEARNING ABOUT TENZING NORGAY? >> YES. WE HAD TO LEARN ABOUT HIM.
>> IN 1953, TENZING NORGAY, A SHERPA FROM NEPAL, GUIDED SIR EDMUND HILLARY OF NEW ZEALAND ON THE FIRST EVER SUMMIT OF
EVEREST. IT WAS AMONG THE MOST DEFINING MOMENTS OF THE 20th CENTURY. AND YET WHILE IT CEMENTED
HILLARY IN HISTORY, NORGAY'S CONTRIBUTION WAS LARGELY OVERLOOKED. >> WHAT DOES HE MEAN TO THE
SHERPA PEOPLE? >> I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIM, LIKE, WHO MADE THE SHERPA A BRAND TODAY.
AND, FOR ME, HE WAS ALWAYS A VERY BIG MOTIVATION JUST TO UNDERSTAND THAT, OKAY, MAYBE WE CAN ALSO BE SOMEONE LIKE HIM.
>> TODAY, NIMA IS CHASING THE RECOGNITION THAT ONCE ELUDED HIS IDOL. IT DOESN'T HURT THAT HE COMES
FROM MOUNTAINEERING ROYALTY. HIS DAD HOLDS THE RECORD AS THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO SUMMIT EVEREST WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL
OXYGEN. HIS UNCLES WERE THE FIRST BROTHERS TO CONQUER THE WORLD'S 14 HIGHEST MOUNTAINS.
WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS, AS WE ARRIVE INTO NAMCHE, AT 11,300 FEET. HERE WE MEET NIMA'S UNCLE,
MINGMA SHERPA, A FORMER YAK FARMER WHO STARTED AS A PORTER, EARNING A DOLLAR A DAY CARRYING LOADS FOR FOREIGNERS.
>> I COME TO KATHMANDU, CARRY THE LOAD, BY PORTER, 30 KILOGRAMS, 70 KILOGRAMS. I SHOW OFF THE PEOPLE, "I AM
STRONG." I CARRY, LIKE, 90 KG, TOO. >> ALMOST 200 POUNDS. >> HE CLIMBED, LITERALLY, TO
THE RANKS OF SHERPA GUIDE A TOP JOB RESERVED FOR THE STRONGEST AND MOST SKILLED. >> EVERY STEP IS DO AND DIE.
EVERY STEP IS MAYBE WE ARE ALIVE OR NOT ALIVE. >> EVERY STEP IS THAT DANGEROUS?
>> YEAH. IT'S DANGEROUS. SOMETIMES, IT'S NIGHTTIME WORK. SOMETIMES, IT'S AVALANCHE.
BUT OUR GOAL IS SUMMIT. >> IN 2009, MINGMA AND HIS BROTHERS STARTED THEIR OWN COMPANY - SEVEN SUMMIT TREKS,
RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY A THIRD OF ALL EVEREST EXPEDITIONS. NOW, THEY WANT TO PROVE THAT SHERPAS ARE MORE THAN
INDISPENSABLE GUIDES TO WESTERN CLIMBERS. AND THEY ARE BANKING ON NIMA, TO SHOW THAT SHERPAS CAN BE
CLIMBING STARS, TOO. >> WE'RE ALMOST NEAR CAMP ONE NOW. >> AT 16, WHILE MOST TEENAGERS
HIS AGE WERE IN A CLASSROOM, NIMA WAS DOING THIS. CLIMBING INTO WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE DEATH ZONE.
THAT'S WHEN THE ALTITUDE IS ABOVE 26,000 FEET AND THE BODY'S ORGANS BEGIN TO SHUT DOWN, MINUTE BY MINUTE.
FOR HIS FIRST SUMMIT IN 2022, NIMA CLIMBED, AND RECORDED ON HIS WAY UP, NEPAL'S MOUNT MANASLU.
>> SO THAT FIRST CLIMB, HOW HARD WAS IT? DON'T SAY, "EASY." >> IT WAS HARD.
BUT EVERY SECOND, I WAS EXCITED, BECAUSE I NEVER KNEW WHAT, WHAT I WAS GONNA SEE AFTER TEN METER.
OF COURSE, THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS I HAD A LOT OF MUSCLE CRAMPS. AND I I THINK IT'S MOSTLY
BECAUSE I WAS TOO YOUNG FOR MY AGE TO START AT THAT TIME. I WAS SLEEPING AT NIGHT, I HAD SOME PAIN IN MY LUNGS, SOME
PAIN ON MY HEART. BUT FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T KNOW WHY, I KEPT WANTING TO GO UP.
AND I NEVER FELT LIKE I WAS GONNA, NOT SUMMIT. >> EVEN IN THE FACE OF AVALANCHES AND SERIOUS
INJURIES, IT TOOK NIMA JUST TWO YEARS TO SCALE ALL OF THE WORLD'S 14 TALLEST MOUNTAINS. THE PREVIOUS RECORD-HOLDER DID
IT IN NINE YEARS. >> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DO THIS? >> THERE HAS TO BE A LOT OF --
MEANING. WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO IT? AND BECAUSE MANY TIMES, THE MOUNTAINS WILL START TO
QUESTION YOU, "WHY YOU ARE HERE?" >> THE MOUNTAINS QUESTION YOU? >> THE MOUNTAIN QUESTION YOU,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO EVEREST, YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY THAT YOU ARE SO SMALL. AT THAT TIME, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
A REALLY -- LIKE -- LIKE, A IRON HEART TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE. YOU CANNOT SAY, "I'M JUST HERE
FOR FUN." YOU CANNOT. THAT'S THE WORST THING THAT YOU CAN CONVINCE YOURSELF.
>> SO WHY ARE YOU THERE? >> I WAS ON A MISSION TO FINISH ALL THE 14. AND I KNEW I -- I BELONG IN
THIS INDUSTRY. EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN REASON. AND THE REASON HAS TO BE REALLY BIG THAT YOU DON'T -- YOU DON'T
GIVE UP. >> SO GETTING THE CRAMPONS READY. >> DESPITE THE ACHIEVEMENT, BIG
BRANDS NEVER OFFERED ENDORSEMENTS, THE WAY THEY HAVE FOR WESTERN MOUNTAINEERS WHO REACH SUMMITS.
>> DO YOU THINK THE FACT THAT YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY OF THOSE ENDORSEMENTS HAS TO DO WITH WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM?
>> MAYBE, YES, BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT I KNOW MY TIME IS GONNA COME. I DON'T WANT TO RUSH.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME, DELIBERATE, CONSIDERED APPROACH YOU TAKE TO THOSE MOUNTAINS, THE ONE YOU'VE TAUGHT US
WALKING UP THESE THESE MOUNTAINS. >> YES. >> WOW, STEEP.
HOLY SMOKES. >> BY DAY FIVE IT IS A BATTLE BETWEEN OUR LUNGS AND GRAVITY. >> YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR LEGS.
YOU SAID PUSH OFF THE POLES RIGHT? >> YOU'RE NOT OUT OF BREATH, I AM.
>> WE ARE AT 13,500 FEET ELEVATION -- >> [BLEEP] ME.
>> AT THIS POINT OUR INNER THOUGHTS ARE NO LONGER BEING HELD IN. >> THIS IS REALLY HARD.
THEY CAN CATCH ME ON THE CAMERA TAKING A BREAK, I DON'T CARE. >> IT JUST LOOKS CLOSE BUT THERE IS ANOTHER.
>> MORE STAIRS. I HAVE TO EMOTIONALLY PREPARE. IT GETS A LOT HARDER? >> FINAL WAY TO PHORTSE.
STEEP. >> VERY STEEP. YOU'RE USED TO IT. >> AFTER EIGHT HOURS OF
TREKKING, WE ARRIVE IN PHORTSE, THE REMOTE VILLAGE WHERE NIMA TRAINED TO BECOME A MOUNTAINEER.
>> NAMASTE. >> WE ARE WELCOMED WITH CEREMONIAL SCARVES, A SYMBOL OF HONOR AND RESPECT, AND GREETED
BY NIMA'S MENTOR, CONRAD ANKER, ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP MOUNTAINEERS WHO RETURNS TO THIS VILLAGE EACH YEAR.
>> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOME YOU HAVE. WOW. IT'S JUST BREATHTAKING,
LITERALLY BREATHTAKING. >> WARM UP ON THIS WALL HERE. >> ANKER OPENED THE KHUMBU CLIMBING CENTER IN PHORTSE IN
2003, TO PROVIDE SHERPAS WITH SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL TRAINING TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON HIGH- ALTITUDE EXPEDITIONS.
NIMA GRADUATED TOP OF HIS CLASS. >> WE WOULD SHOW UP IN FANCY GEAR AND ALL THE BEST STUFF.
AND WE WOULD SEE OUR STAFF THERE WITH WORN-OUT GEAR OR NOT THE PROPER GEAR AND THEN NOT HAVING THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE.
AND FOR ME IT WAS EYE-OPENING. >> IS THERE AN INEQUITY BETWEEN WESTERN CLIMBERS AND NEPALESE CLIMBERS?
>> OH, YEAH. AND IT'S NOT JUST SPONSORS. IT'S THE VALUE OF WHAT THEY DO. I MEAN A WESTERN CLIMBER DIES.
AND THIS IS THE COMMUNITY RALLIES UP. AND THERE'S FUNDRAISING. AND YET FOR THE NEPALI
CLIMBERS, IT'S NOT RECOGNIZED IN THAT SAME SENSE. >> AFTER A NIGHT IN A TEAHOUSE, WE LEAVE PHORTSE BEHIND, OUR
PORTERS ARE ALREADY LINED UP THE MOUNTAINSIDE, AS WE BEGIN THE PUSH TOWARD 14,500 FEET. TALLER THAN MOST MOUNTAINS IN
THE UNITED STATES. WE ARE JUST TEN MILES NOW FROM EVEREST BASE CAMP, BUT WE CANNOT GO ON WITHOUT A STOP
THAT HAS BECOME TRADITION FOR NIMA BEFORE HE SUMMITS, A 600- YEAR-OLD BUDDHIST MONASTERY, WHERE WE RECEIVE A BLESSING
MEANT TO KEEP US SAFE. THE MONKS TIE A THIN CHORD AROUND OUR NECK - A SIMPLE THREAD TO PROTECT US ON THE
MOUNTAIN. WE ARE READY -- FOR EVEREST. WHEN WE COME BACK, THE BIG BUSINESS OF BASE CAMP, AND THE
DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT.
>> ONCE VIEWED AS A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FEAT IN THE MOST BRUTAL CONDITIONS ACHIEVED ONLY BY THE MOST DARING, CLIMBING
MOUNT EVEREST HAS SHIFTED FROM A SYMBOL OF ULTIMATE ADVENTURE TO SOMETHING MERE MORTALS CAN ACCOMPLISH -- AND TAKE A SUMMIT
SELFIE TO PROVE IT. TODAY, EVEREST IS A BOOMING MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR HIGH- ALTITUDE INDUSTRY, WITH GUIDED
CLIMBS FETCHING SIX-FIGURE SUMS. BASE CAMP HAS BECOME A TOURIST DESTINATION, AS WE LEARNED WHEN
WE MADE THE TREK IN MAY. THE COMMERCIALIZATION HAS BROUGHT WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY TO THE SHERPAS OF NEPAL, BUT
ALSO PRESSURE, AS THEY CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE CLIMBING SEASON. IT IS PEAK EVEREST SEASON
THAT NARROW WINDOW IN MAY WHEN THE WEATHER HOLDS JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR CLIMBERS TO MAKE THEIR MOVE UP TO THE TOP OF THE
WORLD. WE HAVE BEEN WALKING FOR EIGHT DAYS. >> SO PRETTY.
>> AND ARE NOW CROSSING A CRITICAL THRESHOLD WHEN THE BODY BEGINS TO FALTER. AS WE GAIN ALTITUDE, EVERY
BREATH DELIVERS LESS OXYGEN. IN EXTREME CASES WHEN THE BRAIN SWELLS AND LUNGS FILL WITH FLUID SEVERE ALTITUDE
SICKNESS CAN BE FATAL. IT'S WHY WE DON'T TAKE THE EASY WAY UP IN A HELICOPTER. THE BODY NEEDS THE SLOW ASCENT
TO ACCLIMATIZE. >> THESE ARE THE MEMORIALS -- ARE RIGHT HERE? >> UH HUH.
FOR ALL THE CLIMBERS WHO PASSED AWAY. >> THE HILLSIDE AHEAD IS COVERED IN MEMORIALS.
>> THIS ONE IS FROM THE 2014 AVALANCHE. >> FOR THOSE WHO NEVER MADE IT BACK FROM EVEREST'S SUMMIT.
ONE IN THREE DEATHS ON EVEREST IS A SHERPA. IN 2023 ALONE, 18 PEOPLE DIED -- THE MOST IN ONE YEAR.
SO HIGH UP, THEIR BODIES ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER. OUR GUIDE, NIMA RINJI SHERPA, THE YOUNGEST CLIMBER TO SUMMIT
THE WORLD'S 14 HIGHEST MOUNTAINS, KNOWS THIS ALL TOO WELL. >> IT SEEMS LIKE DEATH IS
INEVITABLE IN WHAT YOU DO. >> I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE PASS AWAY. AND, YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS IT'S
ALWAYS THERE. AND BUT YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA DIE. >> YOU USE DEATH ALMOST AS A
MOTIVATOR? >> YOU HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MOUNTAINS, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU GO, YOU
ARE SO ENERGIZED, AND YOU FEEL LIKE NOTHING IS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU. AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE
PASS AWAY OR YOU KNOW, THEN YOU FEEL LIKE, "OKAY, THIS IS THIS IS REAL." >> FINAL DAY OF THE TREK.
>> YEAH WE DID REALLY WELL SO FAR. >> I'M VERY EMOTIONAL, ABOUT TO CRY.
BUT -- >> DON'T SAY THAT. >> TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME WE'LL BE TOUCHING 5,000 METERS
16,404 FEET TO BE EXACT. >> WHICH COUNTRY YOU ARE FROM? >> FROM CANADA. >> EVEN UP HERE, IN THIS
GLACIAL VALLEY -- >> YOU'RE A HERO. >> NIMA IS A CELEBRITY. THIS HIGH UP, BESIDES THE
TOURISTS, IT'S YOU, THE YAKS. >> AYE! >> AND THE ALTITUDE -- THAT CRUSHES YOUR CHEST.
>> IT'LL TAKE ME ABOUT 12 DAYS TO GET UP THIS HILL. >> WE'RE MERE HOURS FROM BASE CAMP.
>> IT'S GOTTEN MUCH COLDER. >> TONIGHT, MAYBE MINUS 15? >> MINUS 18? >> MAYBE.
>> OOF. THAT'S BRUTAL. >> OUR PORTERS WHO CARRIED ALL OUR GEAR UP THIS MOUNTAIN HAVE
ALREADY MADE IT TO BASE CAMP AND ARE HEADING BACK DOWN, AND ON TO THEIR NEXT JOB. >> LOOK AT THEM, THEY'RE
RUNNING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. I'M BARELY MAKING IT UP AND THEY'RE COMING BACK DOWN ALREADY.
THIS IS AMAZING. THANK YOU. >> THIS IS THE FINAL APPROACH. >> WE'RE REALLY ALMOST THERE
NOW. OH MY GOD. >> LESS A TRAIL THAN A PASSAGE TO WHERE THE HIGH HIMALAYA
BEGINS. >> JUST YOU CAN SEE NOW, BASE CAMP. >> THERE IT IS.
WE DID IT. >> AFTER 10 DAYS OF CLIMBING, WE CATCH OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF EVEREST BASE CAMP.
IT SITS ON TOP OF CONSTANTLY SHIFTING AND MELTING ICE. >> WOW, INCREDIBLE. OH.
WHAT IS THAT? THE ROCK IS FALLING OFF. >> THE WORLD'S HIGHEST GLACIER -- THE KHUMBU GLACIER.
>> IT'S FREEZING, MY NOSE FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF. THIS IS WHERE YOU TRY TO NOT FALL IN THE GLACIER LAKE.
EVERY ROCK COUNTS. >> HERE AT 17,600 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, EVERY BREATH DELIVERS ONLY HALF THE OXYGEN.
IT'S LIKE BREATHING THROUGH A STRAW. >> WE'RE SO CLOSE. >> OUR LIPS ARE BLUE.
A SIGN THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH OXYGEN. >> IT'S LIKE AN INSTAGRAM PHOTO SHOOT.
>> YES, FAMOUS STONE. >> BUT WE'VE MADE IT. >> WELCOME TO EVEREST BASE CAMP.
I WAS LIKE, AM I GOING TO MAKE THIS? DO I NEED A HELICOPTER? SO NICE TO SEE YOU.
NAMASTE. THANK YOU. >> WE'RE OFFICIALLY HERE NOW. >> OH MY GOODNESS.
>> FROM A FEW DOZEN SUCCESSFUL SUMMITS IN THE EARLY 1980s TO A NEAR RECORD -- ALMOST 500 CLIMBING PERMITS ISSUED THIS
SEASON, EVEREST HAS NEVER BEEN MORE COMMERCIALIZED. AND CLIMBERS GO TO NEW EXTREMES TO STAND OUT, SUCH AS THE
BRITISH TEAM WHO THIS SEASON SUMMITED EVEREST IN LESS THAN A WEEK BY USING XENON GAS TO BOOST OXYGEN LEVELS IN THEIR
BLOOD. >> HAS TOURISM CHANGED EVEREST FOR BETTER OR WORSE? >> FOR NEPAL OF COURSE EVEREST
HAS BEEN THE BLESSING. FOR SHERPAS, FOR THE COUNTRY, THE BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE. >> IT'S A BIG PART OF YOUR
FAMILY'S LIVELIHOOD. >> YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT ONLY US WHO IS GETTING BUSINESS, BUT THAT TAXI
DRIVER, THE HELI PILOT, THE LODGES, THE PORTERS, THE WHOLE ECONOMY'S SUSTAINING, YOU KNOW. SO YOU CANNOT -- JUST SAY THAT
ONLY WE ARE PROFITING. SO EVERYONE IS PROFITING FROM THIS. >> NIMA SHERPA, OUR
INSPIRATION. >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> COMMERCIAL EXPEDITIONS HAVE TRANSFORMED EVEREST INTO HIGH-
ALTITUDE LUXURY. TODAY, SOME CLIMBERS PAY UP TO $180,000 FOR PREMIUM PACKAGES THAT COME WITH PRIVATE CHEFS, A
MOVIE THEATRE, AND ESPRESSO MACHINES. FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THIS IS EVEREST NOW.
AND STARTING IN 2013, NIMA'S FATHER, TASHI LAKPA SHERPA, HELPED BUILD IT, TURNING AN ISOLATED MOUNTAINSIDE INTO AN
ECONOMY. WHAT WAS ONCE A WEEKS-LONG, BONE-CHILLING WAIT AT BASE CAMP FOR A SUMMIT WINDOW -- THAT
LULL IN THE WEATHER WHEN IT'S SAFE TO ATTEMPT A MOVE TO THE TOP -- CAN NOW FEEL LIKE SUMMER CAMP ON A GLACIER.
>> HOLA. >> SMALL LUXURIES ASIDE. >> YOU HAVE COUGH. >> TWO NIGHTS HERE TEST EVERY
OUNCE OF RESILIENCE. BREATHING, EATING, AND SLEEPING ARE STRUGGLES. AND THE BATHROOM IS A BED OF
ROCKS IN A FLAPPING TENT. THE WIND IS BRUTAL, THE COLD PIERCING, AND THE TERRAIN OFFERS NO SHELTER FROM THE
ELEMENTS. >> CAMP 2, THIS IS CAMP 2, 6500 METERS. >> AS ALWAYS, IT'S THE SHERPAS
WHO SHOULDER THE BURDEN, ESPECIALLY ON EXPEDITIONS THAT EXTEND BEYOND OURS AND PUSH UP TO HIGHER CAMPS AND ULTIMATELY
TO THE SUMMIT. A JOURNEY THAT CAN TAKE WEEKS. >> EVEREST! >> THROUGH IT, THEY NAVIGATE
EVEREST'S DEADLIEST TERRAIN -- THE KHUMBU ICEFALL. A MAZE OF SHIFTING TOWERS OF ICE AND BOTTOMLESS CREVASSES.
IT'S THE ELITE SHERPAS CALLED ICEFALL DOCTORS, WHO GO IN FIRST. THEY BUILD THE ROUTE WITH
LADDERS LASHED TOGETHER OVER SHEER DROPS. EVERY STEP IS A GAMBLE. SHERPAS CROSS FAR MORE THAN ANY
CLIMBER, RISKING EVERYTHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S SUMMIT. TO MAKE IT SAFER, INNOVATION IS TAKING FLIGHT.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, EXPEDITION COMPANIES INCLUDING SEVEN SUMMIT TREKS ARE USING DRONES TO FERRY LOADS IN HIGH
ALTITUDES. >> THE DRONES ARE FLYING AROUND AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW. >> THE DRONES ARE NOW HELPING
THE ICEFALL DOCTORS, THEY'RE HELPING TO TAKE THE LADDERS, THE ROPES. AND AT THE SAME TIME THE DRONES
ARE HELPING TO BRING DOWN ALL THE TRASH AND MANY THINGS. >> THE HOPE IS THAT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY MIGHT REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF FATAL ACCIDENTS. >> SO THESE ARE JOBS THAT SHERPAS WOULD HAVE DONE IN THE PAST?
>> THE JOB HAS NOT GONE AWAY. IT'S JUST MAKING THE JOB EASIER, AND SAFER, AND FASTER. >> SO IF IT TAKES A PORTER
HOURS TO CLIMB FROM BASE CAMP TO CAMP 1, HOW QUICKLY CAN A DRONE DO IT? >> THREE MINUTES.
>> THREE MINUTES? >> THREE AND A HALF MINUTES, YEAH. >> WOW.
>> INEXPERIENCE CAN BE DEADLY. ESPECIALLY AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN. >> FROM EVEREST SUMMIT.
>> IN THE DEATH ZONE WHERE EVERY MINUTE COUNTS, ONE STALLED CLIMBER CAN TRAP DOZENS BEHIND THEM FOR HOURS, TURNING
EVEREST INTO THE WORLD'S HIGHEST TRAFFIC JAM. WHEN THE INEVITABLE RESCUE IS NEEDED, IT'S SIMONE MORO WHO
GETS THE CALL. THE ITALIAN HAS BEEN FLYING HELICOPTERS FOR NIMA'S FAMILY, AND CLIMBING THIS MOUNTAIN FOR
YEARS. IN APRIL, HE PULLED OFF THIS DANGEROUS RESCUE MISSION. SO HIGH UP THERE WAS BARELY
ENOUGH AIR TO KEEP THE ROTOR BLADES SPINNING. >> YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE, THEY COME UP, SOME WITH
NOT ENOUGH ACCLIMATIZATION, SOME OTHER WITH WITH NOT ENOUGH PREPARATION, AND THEY START TO FEEL BAD.
AND IF I DON'T GO AND PICK THEM, AND QUICKLY TOOK THEM DOWN, THEY DIE FOR PULMONARY EDEMA, CEREBRAL EDEMA.
AND THIS HAPPEN QUITE OFTEN, EVEN IN THE NIGHT WHILE THEY ARE SLEEPING IN THE LODGE. IN THE MORNING THEY GO, THEY
>> EVEN FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVE THE NIGHT, ANOTHER DANGER OFTEN LOOMS. >> THIS ONE IS BIG.
>> THIS AVALANCHE STOPPED JUST SHORT OF OUR TENTS, ONE OF MANY THAT FOLLOWED A 5.5-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE WHEN WE WERE ON THE
MOUNTAIN. >> FOR SURE THIS IS AN EXTRA STRESS THAT YOU FEEL IT. >> OH, WE FELT THE STRESS.
I HEARD THE AVALANCHE ALL NIGHT. >> BUT HONESTLY, THE BASE CAMP, FOR SUCH KIND OF DANGER YOU
HAVE A HIGHER DANGER HERE THAN NOT HIGHER. >> I'M GLAD YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS ON OUR FINAL DAY AS WE'RE
ABOUT TO LEAVE. >> IT WAS INTENTIONAL THAT WE DIDN'T TOLD YOU ANYTHING. >> WHEN HE'S NOT FLYING AROUND
THE MOUNTAIN, MORO, ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP CLIMBERS, IS SCALING THEM. AND NOW HE'S TAKING NIMA WITH
HIM. TOGETHER THEY ARE TRAINING TO CONQUER MORE PEAKS THIS TIME WITHOUT FIXED ROPES,
SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN OR SUPPORT TEAMS. IT IS SURVIVAL AS SPORT. >> IT'S SNOWING.
ALSO VERY COLD. >> THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME. WHAT'S WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN
HERE? >> I THINK WE WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN SUFFERING MAYBE. >> YOU'VE HEARD ME COMPLAINING.
>> BUT PEOPLE LIKE SIMONE, ME, LIKE MY DAD, MY UNCLE, LIKE, WE KNOW WE WE COME FROM ZERO. WE'RE WE'RE NOBODY IN THIS
IN THIS WORLD. AND WE CREATED SOMETHING FOR OURSELF. >> SO, LIKE, THIS IS YOUR
LEGACY, BUT THE MOUNTAIN IS ALSO YOUR LEGACY. YOU KNOW, USUALLY YOU DON'T TALK TO 19-YEAR-OLDS ABOUT
THEIR LEGACIES. >> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT LEGACY FOR NOW.
MAYBE ONE DAY THEN THE I WILL HAVE MY OWN LEGACY MAYBE AFTER 20, 30 YEARS, YEAH? >> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK
IN 30 YEARS. IN KATHMANDU, THOUGH. I'M NOT COMING BACK ALL THE WAY UP HERE.
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ] >>> LET US MAKE THE CASE THAT E MOST SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CONSERVATORY IS NOT IN PARIS,
VIENNA OR BERLIN BUT RATHER -- IN A HOUSE ON A TREE-LINED STREET IN NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND. IT MIGHT BE AN UNPRETENTIOUS
STRUCTURE, BUT IT'S THERE THAT SEVEN EXTRAVAGANT TALENTS WERE NOURISHED ON A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS BEFORE SETTING OFF
TO PERFORM AT THE WORLD'S GREAT CONCERT HALLS, OFTEN AS FEATURED SOLOISTS WITH THE WORLD'S GREAT ORCHESTRAS.
EACH OF THE SEVEN IS STILL UNDER AGE 30, REPRESENTING THE YOUNG CROSSOVER STARS THAT THE EVER-GREYING CLASSICAL MUSIC
WORLD SO URGENTLY NEEDS. OH, AND ONE OTHER THING -- THEY'RE ALL SIBLINGS. PRESENTING THE KANNEH-MASONS.
♪ IT'S RARE THESE DAYS TO FIND L SEVEN KANNEH-MASON SIBLINGS UNDER ONE ROOF.
BUT WHEN THEY ARE BACK IN THEIR CHILDHOOD HOME IN NOTTINGHAM, OLD HABITS RETURN QUICKLY. AMID THE DIN, IT'S HARD TO KEEP
THOUGHTS TOGETHER, MUCH LESS KEEP TEMPO. EVERY ROOM SPOKEN FOR AS THE SIBLINGS PRACTICE BACH OR
BEETHOVEN OR BRAHMS. THIS WAS THE SETTING THAT PRODUCED WHAT IS SURELY THE MOST STATISTICALLY IMPROBABLE
STORY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY. SEVEN SIBLINGS, EACH A VIRTUOSO BY ALMOST ANY DEFINITION.
ROLL CALL -- JENEBA, 23, AMINATA, 20, SHEKU, 26, BRAIMAH, 28, ISATA, 29, KONYA, 25, AND MARIATU, 16.
THE GRETL VON TRAPP, AS IT WERE. ♪ THE KANNEH-MASON SIBLINGS HAVE
TOURED THE WORLD, RECORDED ART- TOPPING ALBUMS, WON PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS. THEY PERFORM WITH EACH OTHER IN
EVERY COMBINATION. AND AS WE SAW AT CARNEGIE HALL LAST WINTER, THE BOND BETWEEN THE SIBLINGS EXPRESSES ITSELF
AS A KIND OF MUSICAL BANTER. ♪ >> WE NOTICED WHEN YOU PLAY TOGETHER THERE REALLY SEEMS TO
THIS UNSPOKEN CONNECTION. THIS TELEPATHY. WHAT IS IT LIKE PLAYING WITH A SIBLING VERSUS ACCOMPANIMENT
YOU'RE NOT RELATED TO? >> WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE SO CLOSE, I THINK THERE'S, LIKE, A SPEED AT THE -- THE WAY THAT WE
INTERACT, AND I THINK THAT KIND OF UNSPOKEN COMMUNICATION IS JUST VERY QUICK BECAUSE OF HOW CLOSE WE ARE, BECAUSE WE WOULD
LISTEN TO EACH OTHER PLAYING AROUND THE HOUSE. >> YEAH. >> SO WE KNOW EACH OTHER'S
PLAYING VERY WELL. >> THAT DYNAMIC HELPED THE KANNEH-MASONS BUILD A DEVOTED FANBASE.
>> I ALSO PLAY THE CELLO. >> A DIVERSE, YOUNG FANBASE IN A GENRE DESPERATE FOR A WIDER AUDIENCE.
>> THE OVERARCHING QUESTION TO THIS WHOLE STORY IS HOW DO SEVEN SIBLINGS ACHIEVE THIS LEVEL OF TALENT AND SUCCESS?
>> WELL, I THINK THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO IMPORTANT, AND BECAUSE OUR ENVIRONMENT WAS SO INTENSELY MUSICAL AND LOVING
AND SUPPORTIVE, IT WAS KIND OF BOUND TO HAPPEN IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AS IN US FEELING LIKE WE COULD ACHIEVE WHAT WE HAVE
ACHIEVED IN -- ON OUR INSTRUMENTS. >> I'M HEARING A LOT OF NURTURE.
>> UH-HUH. >> YEAH. >> MORE -- MORE THAN NATURE. >> YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ALL BELIEVE. I THINK IF THERE WERE A NATURE PART, IT WOULD BE HAVING THAT
BASE LEVEL OF INTEREST. YOU CAN'T FORCE A CHILD TO LIKE SOMETHING. >> THERE WAS NEVER A GRAND PLAN
HERE, SAY THE PARENTS. KADIE KANNEH, BORN IN SIERRA LEONE, AND STUART MASON, BORN IN LONDON, HAD TAKEN MUSIC
CLASSES IN SCHOOL. BUT THAT'S IT. WHEN THEY STARTED RAISING KIDS, MUSIC WAS JUST ANOTHER ENTRY IN
A PACKED SCHEDULE OF AFTER- SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. >> THEY WENT TO CRICKET, DOWN THE ROAD, DO YOU REMEMBER?
>> OH, GOSH. YES. THE -- THE -- THE -- FORGET CRICKET, YEAH.
>> LOTS OF FOOTBALL, CRICKET, KARATE. >> I'D FORGOTTEN, YES, YES -- TENNIS.
>> LOTS OF THINGS -- GYMNASTICS. >> GYMNASTICS, YES. AND SO I THINK, IN THE END,
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS FUEL YOUR CHILD'S CREATIVE JUICES, REALLY. >> IT DOES NOT SOUND AS THOUGH
YOUR CHILDREN WERE, CONCEIVED, TO HAVE IN MIND, TO BE MUSICIANS. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU --
>> NO, NO. NO, IT WAS -- YEAH. >> NO, IT ALL HAPPENS, ACCIDENTALLY, REALLY.
>> THE ELDEST, ISATA, STARTED ON PIANO WHEN SHE WAS 6. SHE TOOK TO IT. AND AS THE KANNEH-MASON CLAN
GREW, THE YOUNGER SIBLINGS AS YOUNGER SIBLINGS DO -- IMITATED THE BIGGER KIDS. A GLORIOUS CHAIN REACTION.
AS TO WHICH INSTRUMENTS THEY CHOSE -- THERE WAS HEALTHY COMPETITION, PERHAPS WITH A DASH OF FREUD THROWN IN.
>> SHEKU WAS SAYING THAT HE TOOK UP CELLO IN PART BECAUSE YOU HAD THE VIOLIN AND HE WANTED TO PLAY A BIGGER
INSTRUMENT. >> YEAH. I THINK -- I THINK THERE COULD -- COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING
ABOUT, I THINK, I STILL -- >> AND IT HELPS IT'S -- OBJECTIVELY A BETTER INSTRUMENT.
SO THEN >> YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THAT? >> I THINK THE VIOLIN IS MORE POPULAR.
THERE'S MORE REPERTOIRE. >> IT BECAME CLEAR EACH ALSO HAD TALENT. BLAZING, ABUNDANT TALENT, WHICH
STUART, AN EXECUTIVE IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, AND KADIE, A FORMER ENGLISH PROFESSOR, WERE DETERMINED TO FOSTER.
IT WAS INTENSE. THE KIDS ATTENDED LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEN PRACTICED THREE AND FOUR HOURS A DAY.
ALL SEVEN WERE SELECTED FOR THE JUNIOR PROGRAM AT THE RENOWNED ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC IN LONDON, TWO HOURS EACH WAY
EVERY SATURDAY. ANY EXTRA INCOME WENT DIRECTLY TO INSTRUMENTS AND LESSONS. KADIE SAYS THAT MORE THAN ONCE,
THEY NEARLY DEFAULTED ON THEIR MORTGAGE. >> SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HEAR THE STORY AND SAY, "BOY, I WONDER
WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN. THAT'S-- MUST HAVE BEEN A REAL HOT HOUSE."
WAS IT A HOT HOUSE? >> NO. IT'S NOT A HOT HOUSE. I THINK IT'S -- IT'S A HOUSE OF
CHILDREN WHO HAD A LOVE OF MUSIC. THEY DID WORK HARD. >> IT'S AN INTERESTING BALANCE,
ISN'T IT, BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THIS IS WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO. SO THEN, WE HAD TO BE HONEST TO SAY, "WELL, IF THIS IS WHAT YOU
WANT TO DO, THEN YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD." BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT
ANYTHING, YOU HAVE TO GO FOR IT. >> BUT IF THEY SAID, "MUSIC'S NOT FOR ME.
I WANT TO BE A CHAMPION DARTS PLAYER OR A FLORIST--" >> GREAT. GREAT.
>> AS THE KIDS GREW, THE HOME GREW INTO AN INFORMAL MUSIC SCHOOL. EVERY WEEK, THEY'D ALL GATHER
FOR WHAT THEY CALLED THEIR SUNDAY CONCERTS. EACH WOULD PLAY A PIECE, WHILE THE OTHERS WOULD GIVE NOTES.
>> PUT US IN THE ROOM. WHAT ARE THOSE LIKE? >> WELL, THE ROOM WAS THE HALLWAY, USUALLY, EVERYONE
WOULD BE SITTING ON THE STAIRS, KIND OF LOOKING DOWN AT THE SPACE. >> LOOKING DOWN.
>> LOOKING DOWN AT YOU. >> AT THE UNLUCKY PERFORMER. >> YEAH. >> AND THEN WE TAKE IT IN TURNS
AND PERFORM. >> YEAH. >> AND IT'S SO SCARY, 'CAUSE YOU FINISH PERFORMING AND THEN
EVERYONE'S LIKE, "WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST?" >> YEAH. >> THESE WERE REALLY CRITICAL
-- THESE WERE REALLY HELPFUL TO YOUR GROWTH AS MUSICIANS -- >> YEAH. UH-HUH.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO PUTTING YOURSELF UNDER THAT PRESSURE, OTHERWISE YOU'LL GO ONSTAGE, AND IT'S SO
EASY TO JUST CRUMBLE UNDER THE NERVES. >> IF MOM AND DAD WEREN'T TYPICAL STAGE PARENTS, THE
PRESSURE CAME INSTEAD FROM ONE ANOTHER. AS SIBLINGS, THEY CAN DISPENSE WITH THE NICETIES.
THEY REMAIN EACH OTHER'S TOUGHEST CRITICS, MOST DEMANDING COACHES. >> I THINK PRESSURE COMES FROM
KNOWING THE STANDARDS IN THE MUSIC WORLD. AND I SUPPOSE THAT'S NOT A NEGATIVE PRESSURE, BUT JUST A
FEELING OF, "THIS IS WHAT'S REQUIRED OF ME." >> IN TERMS OF CAREER STRATEGY, KADIE SAYS THE KIDS HAVE ALWAYS
CALLED THE SHOTS, AND IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT CLICKS, LIKES OR COMMERCE. >> WE'RE THE KANNEH-MASONS.
>> IN 2015, THEY AGREED TO APPEAR ON "BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT" GOOD EXPOSURE BUT ONLY IF THEY COULD INCLUDE REAL
CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE, RATHER THAN A POP-HEAVY SETLIST. >> YOU SURELY COULD HAVE MILKED THIS STORY AND THE NOVELTY OF
SEVEN KIDS, AND SHOPPED A REALITY SHOW. >> YES. >> HOW DID YOU MAKE THESE
COMMERCIAL DECISIONS, WHAT TO PURSUE AND WHAT NOT? >> BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT THAT.
THEY WANTED TO BE CLASSICAL MUSICIANS AND BE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DID. >> THEY HAD THEIR CONVICTIONS.
>> YES. >> YES. >> HERE IS SHEKU KANNEH-MASON. >> FROM THERE, THE INVITES AND
ACCOLADES, YOU MIGHT SAY, CRESCENDOED. SHEKU WON A MAJOR BRITISH MUSIC AWARD, AND CAUGHT THE EYE OF A
CERTAIN COUPLE IN SEARCH OF A WEDDING ENTERTAINER. WHEN HE PERFORMED AT THE MARRIAGE OF PRINCE HARRY AND
MEGHAN MARKLE IN 2018, THE WORLD HEARD HIM PLAY. ♪ AND SUDDENLY, SHEKU WAS A
NAFIDE STAR, THE FIRST CELLIST EVER TO CRACK THE TOP TEN ON THE UK ALBUM CHARTS. HERE HE IS POSING FOR BRITISH
GQ. IRONIC, BECAUSE OF ALL THE KANNEH-MASONS SHEKU PRESENTS AS THE QUIETEST.
PERHAPS THE LEAST COMFORTABLE WEARING THE CLOAK OF CELEBRITY. BUT GET A CELLO IN HIS HAND -- >> WOULD YOU MIND PLAYING FOR
US? >> WITH PLEASURE. >> AND HE TRANSFORMS. ♪
D DRAWS PACKED AUDIENCES, AS WE SAW IN LONDON. THE SIBLINGS CAME OUT TO SUPPORT, AS THEY TRY TO DO
WHENEVER ONE OF THEIR OWN TAKES THE STAGE. SHEKU'S PERFORMANCE QUIVERS WITH INTENSITY.
YES, THAT'S SWEAT GLISTENING ON THIS $3 MILLION DOLLAR VENETIAN CELLO HE HAS ON LOAN. ALL SEVEN STILL PERFORM AS A
FAMILY FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT KONYA HAS PIVOTED, DEVOTING HERSELF TO WRITING FICTION. AMINATA TRIED OUT ACTING
SCHOOL, BUT MUSIC TUGGED HER BACK AND SHE DECIDED TO RETURN TO CONSERVATORY. BRAIMAH BRANCHED OUT, TOO
TOURING WITH THE DANCE POP BAND CLEAN BANDIT, BEFORE RETURNING TO CLASSICAL. THE YOUNGEST, MARIATU, PLANS TO
GO PRO. >> AS TO THE FOUR CURRENT PROFESSIONALS, THEY'RE BUSY RECORDING OR TOURING.
AND IN THE SPRING, SHEKU WILL TAKE THE STAGE AS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC.
>> YOU'VE COME INTO THE PUBLIC AS THIS UNIT, AS THE KANNEH- MASONS. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE
COLLECTIVE WITH ALSO TRYING TO CARVE OUT AN IDENTITY AS INDIVIDUALS? >> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT
PROBABLY GETS EASIER AS YOU GET OLDER, BECAUSE YOU START TO JUST GET MORE CONFIDENCE AND MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT KIND
OF THINGS YOU WANT TO BE DOING. AND ALSO MUSICALLY, I THINK THAT GETS EASIER. I MEAN, WE PLAY DIFFERENT
INSTRUMENTS. WE'RE DIFFERENT AGES. WE PLAY A DIFFERENT REPERTOIRE. >> THOUGH THERE ARE, WELL, SOME
STRINGS ATTACHED. >> OUT OF ALL THE SISTERS, WE LOOK THE MOST SIMILAR. SO A LOT OF THE TIME, PEOPLE
COME UP TO ME AND BE LIKE, "OH, YOU PLAYED SO WELL LAST NIGHT AT CARNEGIE." AND I WAS LIKE, "THAT WASN'T
ME." SO WE TRY TO DO LIKE -- >> THIS HAPPENED TO ME. >> DID IT HAPPEN TO YOU?
>> A FEW DAYS AGO. >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME -- THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. >> NO.
SOMEONE SAID, "OH, I SAW YOU ON TV THIS MORNING." I SAID, "NO. YOU DIDN'T.
I WAS ASLEEP. IT WAS MY SISTER." >> THEY CONFESS, THEY REMAIN FIERCELY COMPETITIVE WHEN SAY,
APPORTIONING DINNER OR PLAYING BOARD GAMES. SO WE WONDERED ABOUT COMPETITION IN THEIR CAREERS.
>> YOU SHOULD BE INSPIRED BY THOSE AROUND YOU. AND IF SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE
TO, I THINK YOU SHOULD -- FEEL THAT -- ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION TO WANT TO DO THAT. BUT I THINK AS SOON AS THAT
COMPARISON STARTS TO BECOME ABOUT THE EXTERNAL THINGS, LIKE, "OH, YOU'RE DOING THIS CONCERT," I -- THEN -- THEN I
THINK EVERYTHING CAN JUST CRUMBLE VERY QUICKLY. >> YEAH. AND I THINK THAT KIND OF
RIVALRY, IF YOU FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF AS A MUSICIAN IS BASED ON, "OH, HA-HA, YOU DIDN'T GET THIS CONCERT AND I
DID," I THINK THAT'S A VERY WEAK BASE TO BE -- >> SO, YOU'LL JOKE ABOUT WHO GOT THE BIGGEST PIECE OF PIZZA,
BUT YOU GUYS DRAW A LINE. THAT'S NOT GOING TO CONTAMINATE OUR MUSIC. >> WE DRAW THE LINE AT MUSIC
BECAUSE OUR INSTRUMENTS ARE SUCH, LIKE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF OURSELVES. AND IT WOULD BE LIKE DEEPLY
ATTACKING THE OTHER PERSON. >> YET ANOTHER WAY THE KANNEH- MASONS MAINTAIN HARMONY. AN ORCHESTRA GREATER THAN THE
SUM OF ITS PARTS. THIS MOST REMARKABLE OF SEPTETS. ♪
[ STOPWATCH TICKING ] IS SPONSO UNITEDHEALTHCARE. COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD.
>>> THERE ARE SOME WORDS THAT DON'T ROLL OFF THE TONGUE. MIQUINCENTENNIAL IS ONE OF THEM.
BUT WE'LL GET PLENTY OF PRACTICE IN 2026, WITH THE CELEBRATION OF THE 250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION
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