Purcell Quintet Perform at Leeds Conservatoire
Congratulations to string players Rebecca (violin, Year 12), Tori (violin, Year 13), Danya (viola, Year 13), Ivanna (cello, Year 13) and Ella (cello, Year 12) who performed the great Schubert C Major Quintet to a packed audience at Leeds Conservatoire as part of the recent Leeds Chamber Music series.
The students have worked tirelessly on this remarkable work, which sits at the pinnacle of all string chamber music repertoire, and performed it with huge character and persuasive musical lines.
A great achievement with such a huge and demanding work.
Purcell Drummer in Young Drummer Competition
This Sunday (11th February), Year 10 drummer Jack will be competing in the UK Young Drummer of the Year (UKYD) Competition at the Lighthouse Theatre in Poole.
Jack will perform a two minute prepared solo, deliver his own interpretation of a backing track (minus drums) which was supplied prior to the event, and perform with an accompanying band a song he will only hear three times on the day. He is one of 10 young drummers aged 16 and under to compete for the title of UKYD 2024, and we wish him very the best of luck!
Wigmore Hall Programme Announced!
Following hotly-contested auditions, we are delighted to share details of the performers and repertoire for our lunchtime recital at Wigmore Hall on Wednesday 28th February at 1pm.
Performers
Nathaniel Merkies Guitar
Rocco Dal Cin Guitar
Yu-Wei Huang Violin
Antonia Zadrag Violin
JiHyo Dianna Kim Viola
Ivan Cherednichenko Cello
Dominic-Lucian Drutac Violin
Lindsey Lim Cello
Herman Med Cerisha Piano
Rebecca Nicolas Violin
Tori Li Violin
Danya Rushton Viola
Ella Harrison Cello
Ivanna Oliinyk Cello
Programme
Astor Piazzolla Tango Suite
Joaquín Turina La Oración del Torero, Op.34
Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66
Schubert String Quintet in C
Tickets are £18 and available to purchase from the Wigmore Hall website.
Concert Department Review
This week we held four lunchtime concerts. Congratulations to Matthew, Melody, Ali, Rocco, Nathaniel, Gui, Zhuldyz, Oscar, Michael, Rina, Jacqueline, Ruize, Theadora, Lindsey and Jessie.
There was also a Middle School Concert at 7pm on Wednesday evening. Well done to Tracy, Miruna, Natalie, Joshua, Teresa, Martin, Clara, Julianna, Yoel, Lucas, Ruby, Otto, Gabriel, James, Willow, Seth, Albert, Louis, Mahla, Tristan, Malena and Lavender for their brilliant performances.
Purcell Boarders Reach New Heights
On Saturday 3rd February, a group of twelve boarders enjoyed an afternoon of Climbing at the XC Centre in Hemel Hempstead. After learning the basic technique on the bouldering wall they took to the heights of the bigger climbing walls. Well done to everyone for challenging yourselves!
Sir Simon Rattle
Congratulations to Purcell’s President Sir Simon Rattle on becoming the Principal Guest Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic. Sir Simon has signed a five-year contract with the orchestra, and the words ‘Rafael Kubelík Chair’ have been added to his title.
Mica Levi Wins at London Critics’ Circle Award
Composer and alumni Mica Levi has won the ‘Technical Achievement Award’ at the recent London Critics’ Circle Awards for creating the music and sound for Jonathan Glazer’s award-winning Holocaust-era drama The Zone of Interest. Having worked with Glazer before on Under the Skin, in the words of Far Out Magazine, their collaborations have cemented Levi as ‘one of the most astounding composers of the 21st century’.
Alumnus Wins 6th GRAMMY
We were delighted to see alumnus, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier win his sixth GRAMMY Award at this year’s 66th GRAMMY Awards ceremony. Jacob took home the golden gramophone for ‘Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals’ for his feature on ‘In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning’ by vocal supergroup Säje.
Jacob also joined the highly decorated GRAMMY veteran Joni Mitchell on stage to perform ‘Both Sides Now’ in what was her first appearance as a live performer at the awards ceremony.
