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

National Youth Jazz Collective 2021

We were thrilled to hear this week that Year 12 Jazz saxophonist Harry was successful in his audition to join the 2021 National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC) Summer School.

The NYJC’s summer school is for the UK’s most gifted and talented young jazz musicians, and is designed to extend their interactive improvisation and compositional skills. They select from across the nation with only 45 places available across all instruments. Congratulations to Harry on this fantastic achievement and important recognition. We hope he enjoys a superb summer with the NYJC.
 

Reborn – Bringing New Life to Old Pianos

Today (Friday 25th June) saw the launch of a groundbreaking new project from Year 13 Composition student Reuben. The remarkable project, entitled Reborn, has brought together Purcell’s young composers and artists to make new and exciting creations from six old pianos.

The pianos have been completely transformed visually and sonically, and are displayed in a bespoke exhibition and concert space within the Purcell grounds. Their metamorphosis has created a unique visual and auditory experience that pays tribute to the life of these amazing instruments.

Reuben and Purcell’s Head of Composition Alison Cox were interviewed about the Reborn project by BBC Sounds on Thursday 24th June. The interview is available here (skip to the 1 hour and 45 minutes and 48 second marker for their piece).

The project will be photographed and a short film recorded next week. We hope to be able to share these in the last Weekly Highlights of the academic year next Friday.

Watch this space!
 

Artwork of the Week

This week’s highlight from the Art Studio is from Celeste (Year 7) whose oil pastel drawing in the style of Arcimboldo Art Technician Robin Williamson described as a ‘wonder’!