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Weekly Highlights 31st March 2025

Purcell Songwriter to be Featured on BBC Introducing

Exciting news for Year 13 Commercial piano and voice student Oscar! His latest single, ‘End of the Summer’, co-written, performed and produced with Purcell alumnus Nathaniel Merkes (now at the Royal College of Music), was released on all streaming platforms last Friday (28th March 2025).

Adding to the excitement, the song was selected for BBC Music Introducing in the South West and played on BBC Radio Cornwall, Devon and BBC Sounds – you can listen to it here on catch up.

Huge congratulations to Oscar and Nathaniel on this fantastic achievement!

Purcell Pianist Wins Reading Symphony Orchestra Young Musicians’ Competition

Congratulations to Year 13 pianist Yazdi on his recent outstanding achievements. On Sunday 16th March, Yazdi participated in the Reading Symphony Orchestra Young Musicians’ Competition, where he impressed the esteemed panel of adjudicators – Cathal Garvey, Ariel Lanyi and Caroline Welsh – and was awarded First Prize. As part of this award, he has been given the exciting opportunity to perform a concerto with the Reading Symphony Orchestra in their upcoming season.

In addition to this success, Yazdi was recently invited to give a 45-minute recital for The European Piano Teachers Association UK (EPTA) as the National Winner of the 2024 Competition. The recital took place in Penshurst, Kent, where he played to an appreciative, full-capacity audience.

Hugely well done to Yazdi – we look forward to seeing his future performances!

Purcell Students Triumph at Cambridge Community Music Festival

Congratulations to Lilly (Year 11) and Lucas (Year 9), who both delivered winning performances at the Cambridge Community Music Festival last weekend. Competing in their respective Woodwind and String categories, they both secured first place, showcasing their exceptional musical talents.

A fantastic achievement for both Lilly and Lucas!

Purcell Viola Player Takes First Prize at North London Festival

Huge congratulations to Year 10 viola player, Kutay, who won First Prize in the Viola Class (13-14 years) at the North London Festival! This achievement is particularly remarkable as it was his first-ever solo performance on the viola, which is his third study instrument.

Very well done to Kutay, who studies at Purcell under Jacquelyn Woods.

Avison House Enjoys a Weekend Stroll and Hot Chocolate

On Saturday 22nd March, students from Avison House, accompanied by Ms Hawkins and Ms Roache, took a well-deserved break with a relaxing walk to Villiers Café in Bushey. Fortunately, the rain held off, making for a pleasant stroll filled with laughter and conversation.

With steaming cups of hot chocolate in hand, the students enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together, rounding off a busy week with good company and a little indulgence. A perfect way to unwind and recharge!

Composer Marks Anniversary of Britain’s Worst Maritime Disaster

Jacques Cohen, composer and teacher of composition at Purcell, has written a new choral and orchestral work, Lancastria, to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Lancastria — Britain’s worst maritime disaster.

On 17th June 1940, the Lancastria was bombed by German aircraft while evacuating British troops and civilians from France. The tragedy resulted in up to 7,000 deaths, making it one of the largest losses of life from a single ship. However, news of the disaster was suppressed by Winston Churchill to protect public morale so soon after Dunkirk, and it remains a lesser-known event in British history.

Cohen’s composition, written for Lloyd’s Choir, sets the text of Alfred Tennyson’s poem Crossing the Bar — a meditation on death—interwoven with melodies from the Scottish folk tune Flowers of the Forest, which is often played at military funerals and memorials. The work will be performed as part of the annual Lancastria memorial service at St Katharine Cree church, where a stained-glass window is dedicated to the tragedy.

The world premiere of Lancastria took place at St Giles’ Cripplegate on Thursday 27th March, with a second performance at St Katharine Cree in June.

For more details, read the full BBC News article.

Concerts Review

South Hill Park Concert 21st March
Thirteen Purcell students presented a beautiful evening of chamber music at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell, a few of them returning for the second and third time to perform at the venue. The programme included music by Mozart, Schubert, Mahler, Kreisler and Ravel performed to an intimate audience in the historic recital room. Students also enjoyed strolling on the grounds and having a pre-performance hot chocolate. Well done to Zarema, Kira, Julia, Sonya, Harry, Jessie, Anna, Matias, Tristan, Shlomi, Dianna, Ken and Tristan H.

Stanborough Park Church 23rd March
On Sunday 23rd March, the Wind & Brass department were delighted to take five chamber groups to perform an afternoon concert in the wonderful surroundings of Stanborough Park Church. The Trumpet Ensemble, Flute Trio, Saxophone Quartet, Bassoon Quartet and Wind Quintet performed works by Bach, Britten, Zempléni, Keating and Debussy to a large and receptive audience which included our Chair of Governors, Dr. Bernhard Trafford. On what was the 5th anniversary of when the UK first went into lockdown, it was heartwarming to see our students perform live with such professionalism.

Jazz Concert 26th March
On Wednesday, students from the Jazz department presented an exciting concert of original compositions and arrangements. The programme was varied, spanning different styles of Jazz and featuring many improvised solos. Every single year group was represented, and students from other Classical departments joined the Jazz students for the closing set from the Big Band. It was amazing to hear so much invention and creativity from the everyone involved. Congratulations to all the composers and performers involved!

Sixth Form choir concert at St Dominic’s Priory 27th March
On Thursday, the six-form Choir visited St Dominic’s Priory in Camden to sing the beautiful Requiem by Duruflé, conducted by Chloë Allison and accompanied by Jeremiah Stephenson on the church’s historic Willis organ. Arthur in Year 10 was the other organist of the evening, who opened the programme with the second movement of JS Bach Sonata no. 4 in E minor, BWV 528. Congratulations to our Sixth Form students and 25 singers from Years 7-11.

Lunchtime Concerts
This week’s concerts were as varied as ever starting on Monday with Stephanie on harp, Lily and Victor playing violin and piano and the chamber choir conducted by Boris and Cole.

Farrah also treated us to a harp performance on Tuesday followed by the fabulous flute trio of Lia, Kiah and Rose. It was inspiring and uplifting to hear the self penned songs written and sung by Larissa, Clara, Lia, Gabriel and Willow on Wednesday. Thursday we had an exhilarating concert with Julianna on saxophones, Lucas on bass and Boris on piano, followed by Hannah, Chaeyu and Stephanie on marimba, violin and piano respectively. Well done to everyone.

Forthcoming Events

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

Monday 31 March – Trio Recital with PHil Cobb, Helen Vollam and Liz Burley
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Programme:
Music by Handel and Brahms, new commissions by Julia Simpson and Dan Jenkins, as well as reimagined gems by John Williams and Chick Corea.

Phil Cobb (Trumpet) Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2020, previously with the London Symphony Orchestra. A fourth-generation Salvationist, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Renowned soloist and recording artist, he has contributed to major film soundtracks, including Harry Potter and Star Wars.

Helen Vollam (Trombone) Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2004 – the first woman in this role in a London orchestra. She is a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Bones Apart. A Guildhall graduate, she is an active educator and performer, premiering The Book of Miracles with The Book of Miracles with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Symphony Orchestra.

Wednesday 2 April – Alessandro Borgomanero and Sarah-Jane Bradley Recital
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Recital Room, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Programme:
W.A. Mozart Duo in G Major for Violin and Viola KV 423
J. S. Bach Chaconne from the Partita No. 2 in D Minor for Violin Solo BWV1004
David Matthews (b1943) “Darkness Draws In” (2005) and “Elegiac Variations” (2024)
Ernani Aguiar (1950-) “Duos de Prados” for Violin and Viola (1986)
Handel/Halvorsen “Passacaglia” for Violin and Viola

Thursday 3 April – Musical Theatre Evening
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the best of West End theatre. Experience the drama and joy of your favourite show tunes performed by outstanding vocal talent and live musicians.

Featuring hits from:
Six
Ghost
West Side Story
Everyone’s talking about Jamie
And many more

Friday 2 May – Wigmore Hall Lunchtime Concert
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: Wigmore Hall 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP
Tickets: £18 and can be purchased here

The Purcell School Chamber Soloists return to Wigmore with a programme celebrating the anniversaries of Ravel and Berio. They include a work written for them by Robert Saxton, who studied with Berio. Saxton is deeply immersed in Ravel’s music, and closely involved in the education of young composers. His new work takes Ravel’s opera L’enfant et les sortilèges as a starting point.