Weekly Highlights 19th April 2024

Hugely well done also to Year 10 pianist Pijus (Y10) who participated in the XII International Balys Dvarionas Competition in Kaunas, Lithuania. He not only became the 2nd prize winner, he also received three special prizes – for the best performance of a piece written by a Classical composer, best performance of a piece written by a Romantic composer and a solo recital prize, which will take part in Organum Concert Hall in Vilnius during 2025/2026 season.

Pijus, who studies at Purcell under Morta Grigaliunaite, performed a highly demanding programme consisting of piano works by Haydn, Schönberg, Chopin, Dvarionas and Liszt.

Congratulations to both Luca and Pijus. All at Purcell are thrilled for you, and the Keyboard Department is bursting with pride.

Purell Trio Perform in Blackheath

We were delighted to hear that over the Easter break, Year 12 clarinettist Birce played an astonishing lunchtime concert with two of her classmates, Ella (cello, Year 12) and Aaron (piano, Year 12), at the Morden College in Blackheath.

The trio was formed by Birce and the programme arranged to showcase all of the performers – in an ensemble and as individuals.

The programme included Bach’ Cello Suite No.1, Three Romances by Aaron Stewart, Schoenberg’s Intermezzo Op.25 and Brahms Clarinet Trio Op.114.

The audience so enjoyed the performance that the trio have been invited back to perform again in the autumn.

Congratulations to Birce, Ella and Aaron.

Classical Voice Masterclass

Shortly before the end of last term, the classical singers were treated to yet another stunning masterclass given by Professor Richard Jackson (RCM/Guildhall). Richard draws on his own illustrious career to guide the singers through their songs. He was a regular member of the celebrated Songmakers’ Almanac and his knowledge of the art song repertoire is astonishing. He is always encouraging and, at the same time, entertaining. The singers drew huge inspiration from the class and we look forward eagerly to his next visit.

Our thanks to Richard for giving his energy and expertise so willingly, and a special mention to Purcell’s Voice teacher Tom Marandola for arranging this important visit.
 

Design a Lab Coat Competition

During Science Week (8-17th March), the Science and Art departments embarked on a joint venture for all KS3 students to get creative designing the front and back of a lab coat. ‘Going digital’ was the brief which was embraced in so many different and clever ways; how technology has changed over time and what it will look like in the future, robots, circuit board patterns, AI, wearable technology, their own inventions and much more!

The best from Years 7, 8 and 9 have been entered into a national competition to try and win lab coats for our school!

A huge well done to Michael (Year 7), Jasper (Year 8) and Begum (Year 9).

Yoko and Sonya (Year 9) were also highly commended for their clever interpretations of the future of technology and food production.

Thank you to all the KS3 students for putting in so much time, effort and energy. Do look out for them hanging up around the school!

Musical Opinion Review

We were thrilled to see in a recent edition of Musical Opinion, a review of our November 2023 performance at London’s St John’s Smith Square. It was at this event that our Symphony Orchestra played under the baton of renowned conductor Paul Mann with recent alumnae Hana McDowell (violin) and Ekaterina Chunikhina (oboe) as soloists. The orchestra deftly performed two world premieres by Laila Arafah and Daniel Fardon, as well as three standout pieces from Bartók, Martinu and Brahms, the latter having been arranged by Robin Holloway who we were thrilled was in attendance.

Please find the full review below.

Concert Department Review

During the Easter break, eight of our upper sixth string players, Goulwenna (Year 13), Dominic-Lucian (Year 13), Yu-Wei (Year 13), Dianna (Year 12), Iván (Year 13), Antonia (Year 13), Mina (Year 13) and Emma (Year 13), travelled to Malta to perform in the Spring Festival opening concert. The programme included music by Purcell, Bacewicz, Boccherini and Mendelssohn. Students also rehearsed and performed alongside Purcell patron Dmitry Sitkovetsy – an invaluable opportunity.

On Tuesday 16th, our Chamber Choir sang during St Albans Cathedral’s Evensong. It was a beautiful service and students performed brilliantly on the first day of term after the Easter break.
 

Forthcoming Events

In addition to those highlighted events below, please visit our online Concerts and Events Guide here.

Sunday 21 April – Chamber Music with Charles Sewart and Students of The Purcell School
Time: 4.00pm
Venue: The Octagon Music Society, The Clarendon Muse, Watford, WD18 7JA
Tickets: £20 and available to purchase here. Free admission for young persons under 26, courtesy of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust.

A concert of chamber music from Charles Sewart and students of The Purcell School string department.

Programme:
Shostakovich String Quartet No.7 Op.108
Joaquín Turina La oración del torero Op.34
Mendelssohn String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20

Wednesday 24 April – Middle School Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

Friday 26 April – Barber Lunchtime Concert
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required. Further information is available here.

A lunchtime concert featuring two captivating trios. The performance begins with Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor for violin, cello and piano, written in 1839, and described by Schumann as ‘the master trio of our age’. The concert continues with Brahms’ Clarinet Trio in A minor – penned a year after the composer had declared his second string quartet his final work.

Programme
Mendelssohn Piano Trio No.1, Op.49
Brahms Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op.114

Performers
Rebecca, Ella, Phoebe, Ella, Birce and Aaron