New Choir Leader
After an extensive recruitment process, we were delighted to this week welcome Dr Chloë Allison, mezzo-soprano, Cambridge academic and choral conductor, to Purcell as our new Choir Leader.
Over the course of one day every week, Dr Chloë Allison will work with every single Purcell School student in a new programme designed to fill the School with a love of choral singing, and to extend our students’ musicianship skills.
Of the appointment, Dr Chloë Allison commented: ‘I am thrilled to be joining such an exciting and supportive community of musicians. Choral singing is a wonderful vehicle for musical development and there is such potential for ambitious and high-quality music-making at Purcell’.
Please join us in welcoming her to our school community.
BBC Young Musician 2024 Semi-Finalists Announced
We are thrilled to announce that Year 12 violinist Shlomi has advanced to the semi-finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024 competition!
The announcement, made at the close of last Sunday’s broadcast, followed Shlomi’s captivating performances of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and Wieniawski’s Polonaise No. 1. His remarkable talent and artistry have earned him a well-deserved spot in the next stage of this prestigious competition.
Catch Shlomi’s performances and announcement at 1:05:50 in the broadcast.
We also want to extend special recognition to our other outstanding musicians: Rhea Jo (recent alumna, oboe), Tom (Year 13, clarinet) and Suanoi (Year 13, flute), all of whom reached the quarter-finals and performed brilliantly.
The BBC Young Musician 2024 series continues to air on Sundays at 7:30 pm on BBC FOUR, with the following key dates:
Sunday 13th October: Semi-final
Sunday 20th October: Grand final
The Grand Final will also feature highlights on BBC TWO on Sunday 20th October.
We encourage everyone to support Shlomi by tuning in and cheering him on as he proudly represents The Purcell School!
Purcell Students Perform at Opening of Retail Space in Sheffield
In August, Rhys (Year 12, trumpet), Skye (Year 11, baritone horn and trombone) and Glyn (Year 7, trumpet), along with dad Nick (bass trombone), were invited to perform at the official opening of Leah’s Yard, a new artisan retail space set in a Grade 2 listed building in the centre of Sheffield. After a fanfare to mark the grand opening of the doors, the quartet performed a varied selection of music for the arriving visitors. Other students and alumni of Sheffield Music Hub continued to provide musical entertainment across the opening weekend.
What a fantastic experience! Here’s to many more family performances.
Purcell Student Triumphs at the London Young Musician Competition
We are thrilled to announce that Stephanie in Year 7 has received two awards at the recent London Young Musician Competition.
Stephanie’s original composition performance earned her both a Bronze Award and the Characteristic Special Prize – highlighting her unique musical expression and creativity.
Congratulations to Stephanie on this fantastic achievement! We look forward to hearing more of her work in the future.
Purcell Student Nominated for Revelation Award
We are excited to announce that Year 10 pop and commercial singer Lia has been nominated for the Revelation Award at her hometown’s Radio Annual Awards (Gala da Rádio Vizela). This nomination recognizes her exceptional vocal performances and the remarkable impact she has made in the local music scene.
We wish Lia the very best of luck.
Purcell Violinist Secures Roles with LPO Junior Artists and NYOGB
We are thrilled for Year 13 violinist Rebecca, who has been accepted into the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) Junior Artists Programme for the 2024/25 season following auditions earlier this year. This exciting opportunity will allow Rebecca to participate in a wide range of projects with the LPO, fostering her development as a young artist.
In addition to this fantastic achievement, Rebecca has also secured a coveted seat in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYOGB) for the 2024/25 season. She is absolutely over the moon, and we are incredibly proud of her hard work and dedication!
Purcell Students Participate in the EMCY International Workshops
We are delighted to share that Year 11 students Von and Ireh had a fantastic week in Lithuania, participating in the European Union of Music Competitions for Youth (EMCY) International Workshops, Masterclasses and Concert Series.
During their time there, both students had the privilege of attending masterclasses with the internationally renowned violin professor Jurgis Dvarionas, and they performed in three concerts, including one at the stunning Palangos Kurhauzas. This invaluable experience will no doubt contribute to their continued growth as promising violinists.
A big thank you to EMCY for the invitation and for providing such a wonderful opportunity!
