Redefining the parameters of the cello, he moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from collaborations with world and jazz musicians, to concertos and solo performances. Selaocoe combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing and body percussion, and is devoted to composing works and curating programmes that highlight the links between Western and non-Western musical traditions, broadening the horizons of classical music to reach a more diverse audience. In 2023 he was awarded the RPS Instrumentalist Award for his performances and collaborations which "blaze with creation, sending audiences home on a high".

Selaocoe thrives in exploratory settings, developing new projects with contemporaries, and enjoys close collaborations with musicians from a medley of genres, including Bernhard Schimpelsberger, Seckou Keita, Manchester Collective, Giovanni Sollima and Dudù Kouaté. In 2016, Selaocoe formed Chesaba – a trio specialising in music from the African continent, including many of his own compositions – and in 2022 formed the Bantu Ensemble who perform his music widely.

In February 2025, Selaocoe released his anticipated second album on Warner Classics Hymns of Bantu, following his critically acclaimed debut Where Is Home (Hae ke Kae). This was closely followed by the release in August 2025 of a recording of Selaocoe’s solo cello concerto Four Spirits. This was recorded live with Aurora Orchestra at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, after being performed extensively internationally with orchestras such as Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.

In spring 2026, Selaocoe gave the World Premiere of a new cello concerto by Jessie Montgomery, These Righteous Paths, with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Giancarlo Guerrero at the Berlin Philharmonie. He then gave subsequent performances of the work with the commissioning partners including the Klara Festival (with Brussels Philharmonic), NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, BBC Philharmonic at the BBC Proms, Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center and at Aspen Music Festival, and will continue to perform the concerto in 26/27 with the Oregon Symphony and further into future seasons.

Also in the 26/27 season, Selaocoe continues as Artistic Partner of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and will perform with orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and on a European tour with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

As a composer, Selaocoe has recently completed commissions for artists including Yo-Yo Ma (Ramblings of Modisana, premiered in February 2026 at UC Santa Barbara), Gautier Capucon (Toro Tsa Kwa, premiered in November 2025 and commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra), the Signum Quartet and Hermes Experiment.

Selaocoe plays a copy of a circa 1735 Montagnana, made by Robin Aitchison in 2020 with the generous support of the Alan Powell Trust.

Abel Selaocoe is an exclusive recording artist with Warner Classics.

Website Abel Selaocoe: click here!

fast forward classical represents Abel Selaocoe in Germany, Austria and Poland.

In cooperation with Lucy Saunders and Eleanor Philpott/ intermusica