The Purcell School > News > Uncategorised > Weekly Highlights 17th January

Weekly Highlights 17th January

Welcome to the latest edition of Purcell’s Weekly Highlights!

Zara Williams

In the latter part of last year, Purcell pianist Zara Williams received a full scholarship to attend the International Winter Piano Academy ‘Feuerwerk’ from 29th December 2019 to 6th January 2020. The academy is an annual ‘by invitation’ event and Zara was one of only eleven young pianists from around the world to be selected to attend. Her time at the academy was a great success, and she was given the opportunity to perform at five concerts around Hannover and Einbeck. Zara also attended dinner receptions held at the households of some of Germany’s most renowned families – The Beckendorf’s and Rabbethge’s – and was able to practice on their historic pianos, which are both over a hundred years old. Following Zara’s performance for Mrs Rabbethge and her friends, she has been invited back to give a private house concert. We are delighted for her.

girl sitting at a baby grand piano, smiling at camera

Freddie Faragher

Purcell student Freddie Faragher has been awarded a place (cornet) in the National Youth Brass Band (NYBB) of Great Britain for 2020. As part of the NYBB, Freddie will be given the opportunity to perform concerts in Weston-Super-Mare and at the Dora Stoutzker Hall in Cardiff (RWCMD) this spring. Competition for places in the NYBB is fierce and the standard of playing is very high, so we are particularly thrilled for Freddie.

Leicester International Music Festival

Next week sees students from our Woodwind department feature in their own programme as part of the Leicester International Music Festival’s ‘Lunchtime Concerts’. The 2019/20 series is highlighting female composers, so as well as Poulenc and Mozart the programme has two brand new works from Purcell students Jasmine Morris and Chelsea Becker. For more information about the concert, which takes place at 1pm on Thursday 23rd January in Leicester, please visit the festival’s website.

Milton Court

Our thanks to all the friends, family and staff who were able to attend Sunday’s Senior Showcase recital at Milton Court. It was a fantastic evening of stellar music-making, and we offer our congratulations to Iohan Coman (violin), Carmen Sanchez-Labrador (piano), Lydia Cochrane (saxophone), Anna Maclean (cello) and Bradley Ng (piano). Also our thanks to Magdalene Ho (piano) and Jack Gonzalez-Harding (harpsichord) for their accompaniment. Footage and photographs of the evening will be available shortly. Watch this space for more news.

Purcell Running Club

The first Purcell Running Club event of the spring term took place at Rickmansworth Aquadrome last weekend. Our students and staff joined over two hundred runners (bolstered by New Year resolutions!) who all enjoyed the unseasonably pleasant weather while running two laps around Bury and Latchford Lakes and along the Grand Union Canal. Participants included Reuben, Benji, James, Nadia, Rowena, Jessica, Mr Brookes, Miss Perks and Saffie the cocker spaniel (who always enjoys these events).

National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Concert

On Monday evening BBC Radio 3 broadcast the most recent concert of the NYO’s celebrated Rise Up! tour. Several Purcell students were playing (and singing!) in what was a tremendous performance. So, in the words of the NYO, ‘grab a pair of headphones, turn up the volume, and prepare to be moved’. The recording is available here for another month.

Robin Ireland Masterclass

Earlier this week, our students were treated to a Viola Masterclass with renowned musician and Head of Chamber Music at the Birmingham Conservatoire Robin Ireland. We are grateful to Robin for sharing his time, expertise and enthusiasm with us.