The Purcell School > News > Weekly Highlights > Weekly Highlights 3rd May 2024

Weekly Highlights 3rd May 2024

Purcell Clarinettist Wins at UK Festivals

At the end of February, Year 11 clarinettist Marina won the wind section of Bromley Festival of Music and Speech. She was then invited to take part in the Star Award competition and competed against the other section winners. We are delighted to report that Marina triumphed and was declared the winner. As part of the Star Award, she will perform in the prize giving ceremony in May, where she will also be presented her award by the Mayor of Bromley.

Following the successes of the previous month, in early March Marina went on to win several wind classes at the Coulsdon and Purley Festival, as well as the Diamond Cup for concerto playing for the second consecutive year. Furthermore, Marina was invited to participate in the Hervey Allen competition for outstanding musicianship which, adjudicated by Timothy Barratt and Russell Keablem, she won in the face of tough competition.

Marina studies at Purcell under Stephen Williams and Joy Farrall. Heartfelt congratulations to Marina on these outstanding achievements! We are thrilled for you.

Purcell Composer Wins International Competition

We are delighted to share the news that Year 12 composer Adi has won the Promising Young Talent Prize at the recent International Composition Competition of the Vienna Classical Music Academy 2024 for her piece ‘The Quiet Before The Storm’.

Adi studies at Purcell under Sylvia Lim. Our congratulations!

Purcell Pianist Triumphs at EPTA National Final

On Saturday 20th April, Year 12 pianist Yazdi took part in the EPTA UK National Final which was the culmination of ten regional rounds across the UK and semi-finals held in Manchester and London. He performed a recital of piano works by Scarlatti, Beethoven and Debussy, and we are thrilled to announce that he was awarded First Prize.

Huge congratulations to Yazdi, who studies at Purcell under Patsy Toh.

Purcell Pianist Festival Win

In more Keyboard news, we were thrilled to hear that on Saturday 27th April Year 10 pianist Grace won First Place at the North London Festival of Music, Speech and Drama in the Piano Recital Class (age 13-16).

Grace studies at Purcell under Caterina Grewe. Congratulations on this fantastic achievement.

Purcell and the NYBBGB

Over the Easter holidays, Year 10 trombone and baritone horn player Skye spent a week at Taunton School with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB), having graduated this year from the National Children’s Band where she held the principal baritone seat for the last four years. Skye was thrilled to be given the top 2nd baritone seat for the Youth Band course, with a number of experienced 6th form musicians above her.

The course was led by leading brass band musicians, with euphonium virtuoso David Childs featured as guest soloist and a major work entitled Fragile Earth written specifically for the course by Sir Karl Jenkins CBE.

The course concluded with a concert in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall in Cardiff where the band performed a varied programme celebrating the life of legendary brass band conductor Geoffrey Brand, featuring show stopping performances from David Childs, and the world premiere of Fragile Earth – attended by Sir Karl. A second concert took place a week later at the University of Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium.

Skye had a fantastic week and is looking forward to the summer course, which will feature trumpet soloist James Fountain and an end of course concert at Blackburn Cathedral.

Hugely well done to Skye on a break enormously well spent!

Art in Nature

We are delighted to announce that at least 2 current Purcell students’ artwork – Jessie (Year 12) and Teodora (Year 11) – have been selected to feature in a new music video celebrating art and nature in the UK.

The Art In Nature Global initiative is an exciting and dynamic competition with a musical connection which inspires young people to creatively connect with nature. Both Jessie and Teodora’s artwork can be seen in a sneak preview of the film here with the launch of the full music video scheduled for 10th May. Art in Nature Global recommends subscribing to the following YouTube channel for the earliest information.

The full online gallery is available here.

Good luck to all the Purcell artists who have participated!

Concert Department Review

On Sunday 28th, students Chloe, Amanda, April, Keir, Katrina, Yulin, Teodora, Tristan, Birce, Thomas, Marina and Samsara presented a concert at Edge Grove School for the Radlett Music Society. The programme included pieces by Ravel, Pedro Iturralde, Debussy and Damase, in addition to two works by current students Aaron and Katrina – ‘Sonata in Two Parts’ for violin and piano, and ‘The Leap’ written for saxophone quartet.

As well as followers of the society, there were a number of primary aged children in the audience who enjoyed hearing about the various instruments from our experienced students.

On Monday 29th, students from our Wind Department travelled to Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford to take part in a ‘Double Reed Day’. Together with students from Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford, Wells Cathedral School and others, Purcell students took part in various workshops followed by a concert in the Cathedral.

On Wednesday 1st May, we had a large supportive audience for the Middle School Concert. The students acted very professionally for their age and presented an excellent concert. It was particularly nice to hear a chamber music group in addition to the solo performances.

Well done to Norah, Theo, Siyue, Victor, Alexandra, Elsa, Rosie, Samsara, Kelchi, Gracie, Rowena, David and Tymofiy, and our thanks to all you turned out to support them.

It was very pleasing to have full audiences for all the lunchtime concerts this week including Edgegrove School on Tuesday who joined us for their second visit of 2024. It was a satisfying contrast for the audiences to be immersed in piano performances at the start of the week and then ending in cello and flute recitals.

A wide variety of music was performed. Well done to Tymofiy, Saule, Patchubun, Anthony, Teresa and Suanoi.

Forthcoming Events

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

Tuesday 7 May – Lunchtime Concert at St Albans Cathedral
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: St Albans Cathedral
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

The St Albans Cathedral Music Trust presents a series of Lunchtime concerts at the Cathedral to both highlight the great work being done by students in the surrounding area and to inspire others.

Programme to include music by Bach, Humperdinck, Mozart, Faure, Gavin Whitlock and Pedro Iturralde.

Wednesday 8 May – Peter Sheppard Skærved – New Works for Solo Violin
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Recital Room, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

Peter Sheppard Skærved (violin) & Robert Saxton (composer) lead a salon evening of music by their collaborators and friends at the Purcell School.

Please come along to hear works by Vigo Kovaĉić, Mihailo Trandafilovski, Robert Saxton, Michael Small, Evis Sammoutis and student composers Kaelan, Edward, Thomas, Tim, Katrina and Aaron.

Wednesday 22 May – Khanh Nhi Luong Piano Recital
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

We are delighted to have Vietnamese pianist Nhi Luong perform here at Purcell!

Programme:
Beethoven Andante Favori WoO 57
Schubert Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor, D. 537, I. Allegro ma non troppo, II. Allegretto quasi andantino and III. Allegro vivace
Henri Dutilleux Piano Sonata Op. 1, I. Allegro con moto, II. Lied and III. Choral et variations
Dang Huu Phuc Drums (from Bunches of Flowers of Vietnam)