It is with great pleasure that The Purcell School announces internationally renowned, cellist, music educator and broadcaster Julian Lloyd Webber as their newest Patron.
A former Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Emeritus Professor of Performing Arts at Birmingham City University and the founder of the In Harmony music education programme, Julian Lloyd Webber is regarded as one of the finest musicians of his generation and enjoys one of the most creative and successful careers in classical music today. This patronage reflects his commitment to the outstanding education of young musicians and his ongoing dedication to supporting new talent in the music industry.
A Royal College of Music scholar and later Fellow, who completed his studies in Geneva with the renowned cellist Pierre Fournier, Julian Lloyd Webber’s playing career has included collaborations with an extraordinary array of musicians from Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel and Sir Georg Solti to Elton John and Stephane Grappelli. He has premiered more than sixty works for cello and has inspired new compositions from composers as diverse as Joaquin Rodrigo and Malcolm Arnold to Philip Glass, James MacMillan and Eric Whitacre. His many recordings have received worldwide acclaim, with the Brit-award-winning Elgar Concerto conducted by Lord Menuhin chosen as the finest ever version by BBC Music Magazine.
The patronage comes at an important time for The Purcell School. Principal, Paul Bambrough, commented “I am both thrilled and delighted to welcome my friend and colleague Julian Lloyd Webber to The Purcell School family. Julian’s vast experience as a musician, his comprehensive knowledge of the music industry and his passion for music education will be of incalculable value to the School and I look forward to working with him once again to enhance and develop our vital and important work.”
Of his new appointment, Lloyd Webber says “I am honoured and excited to accept the role of Patron at the wonderful Purcell School. Under Paul Bambrough the School is going from strength to strength and I know that we share many of the same beliefs about bringing music education to as many young people as possible. I can’t wait to get involved!”
