Purcell Harpist Wins at Croydon Music Festival
Congratulations to Year 11 harpist Selin who was awarded First Prize overall in the Harp Competition at the Croydon Music Festival.
A special thank you to harp teacher Charlotte Seale for her continued support and guidance. Well done, Selin – we are incredibly proud of you!
Purcell Clarinettist Triumphs at Rotary Young Musician Competition
Congratulations to Marina (Year 12, clarinet) for winning the Rotary District 1120 Young Musician Competition last Saturday in Sheerness! Following her success at the Bromley competition, Marina now advances to the Cluster/Semi-Finals round.
In recognition of her exceptional talent, she has also been invited to perform at the prestigious Rotary Gala Concert at Cobham Hall, Kent, on 11th April.
We wish Marina the best of luck in the next round!
Purcell Musicians Shine at Prestigious Jazz Venues
On the 29th January, Year 13 students Samuel and Natty, together with Purcell alumnus Louis Richardson, performed as the trio NSLfusionExperience at the renowned Pizza Express Soho Jazz Club. Supporting drummer Jack Manders at this sold-out event, they delivered an electrifying performance, joined by guest musicians Year 13 Clementine and Year 10 Seth.
Continuing their musical journey, the trio also took to the stage at Berkhamsted Jazz on the 8th February, supporting Purcell’s Jazz Ensembles. Their set featured a captivating mix of original compositions, contemporary jazz and classic jazz standards.
Congratulations to all involved for representing The Purcell School with such extraordinary talent and passion!
Voice Masterclasses
Last week saw the luxury of two masterclasses for the Purcell classical singers.
On Monday, a visiting Chinese professor, Ying Liu (mezzo soprano), who teaches at the Xinghai Conservatoire in Guangzhou, gave a highly enjoyable and enthusiastic class which the students found very beneficial. Then on Thursday, they were treated to what has become a regular annual visit from Richard Jackson who teaches at several London conservatoires. He brought his usual deft touch to help the students explore the depths of their songs’ texts to further colour their performances. A thoroughly good time was had by all.
Taking part were Kiah, Craig, Sonya, Daniel, Mac, Solomiya, Alina, Suanoi and Adi.
Viola Masterclass with Professor Hou
Last Monday, Purcell students had the incredible opportunity to participate in a viola masterclass led by Professor Hou from the Xinghai Conservatoire in Guangzhou.
Viola players Yagmur and Dianna both took part, benefiting from Professor Hou’s expert guidance and insight. It was an inspiring session that left a lasting impact on all who attended.
A big thank you to Professor Hou for sharing his expertise with our young musicians!
Art Trip to Tate Britain
Year 13 Art students recently visited Tate Britain as part of an inspiring trip to enrich their exam component. Building on their previous visit to Tate Modern two years ago, this excursion offered a fresh perspective, encouraging students to explore their projects through the lens of their unique starting points.
The students were captivated by the diverse collection at Tate Britain, which beautifully blends traditional masterpieces with strikingly modern works. This dynamic mix provided valuable insights and sparked new creative ideas.
Enjoy a glimpse of their artistic journey through the accompanying photos!
