Welcome to the latest edition of Purcell’s Weekly Highlights!
Wycombe Sound Radio and Jazz Festival
On Tuesday 19th April, Year 13 saxophonist Harry gave a live performance and interview on the Wycombe Sound Radio show ‘Soul and Funk’. Harry played three of his own jazz compositions, as well as Beautiful Love.
A recording of the show is available here, and Harry’s session is from 1.03-1.22.
This was part of a promotion for the Wycombe Jazz Festival which will take place on Sunday 5th June, and in which Harry is headlining alongside Matt Johnson (Jamiroquai), Yakul, and the MLN Ensemble. Harry will be playing his own compositions and some standards. We wish him every success for the festival.
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International Orbetello Piano Competition
Year 10 pianist Phoebe was extremely happy to be awarded First Prize at The International Orbetello Piano Competition 2022 in Tuscany last weekend. Phoebe also received the Special Prize of a full scholarship to participate in The Orbetello Piano Summer School Masterclasses and Concert during the Orbetello Piano Festival in July. This Special Prize is awarded to just one pianist from all categories of the competition. Phoebe studies at Purcell under Caterina Grewe.
Our congratulations to Phoebe!
Further International Orbetello Piano Competition News
In further news from the International Orbetello Piano Competition, Year 8 pianist Celeste and Year 7 pianist Kevin, who study at Purcell under Florian Mitrea, have both been awarded Second Prize in the prestigious competition.
Kevin has also won the Silver Award in the Blackheath Music Festival.
Huge congratulations to Celeste and Kevin on these fantastic achievements!
‘Merci, Maestro!’ International Piano Competition
We were delighted to hear earlier this week that Year 7 pianist Luca had been awarded the Second Prize in the ‘Merci, Maestro!’ International Piano Competition in Brussels. This was Luca’s first major competition, with three rounds, in which he competed with pianists from all over the world, many older than him. It is a huge achievement, and we are tremendously proud of and for him. Luca studies at Purcell under Florian Mitrea.
North London Music Festival
It was wonderful to hear that Year 10 student Aaron won his class and the overall prize for an Étude at the North London Music Festival on Monday 2nd May. Congratulations to Aaron.
Watford Festival 2022
In news which should have been carried in a previous edition of the Weekly Highlights, we are pleased to announce that Year 8 pianist Nemunis triumphed in the Pianoforte Class at the Watford Festival in February, taking First Prize in the Classical under 16 years old category. He was also nominated the Best Performer under 14 years old for the whole festival! Nemunis studies at Purcell under Lidia Amorelli.
Our heartfelt congratulations, and apologies for not sharing this news earlier.
Imagine . . . Jacob Collier: In the Room Where it Happens
On Monday 2nd May, BBC1 aired the latest instalment in the ‘Imagine . . . 2022’ series which saw Alan Yentob meet virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, singer, arranger and Purcell alumnus Jacob Collier.
Jacob, who made history in 2021 for being the first UK artist to win a Grammy for each of his four albums, spoke to Alan Yentob about his music, collaborations and influences.
It is an inspiring piece and essential viewing for all in the Purcell community (and beyond!).
‘Imagine . . . Jacob Collier: In the Room Where it Happens’ is available on BBC iPlayer here.
Santander International Piano Competition
Pianist and alumna Evelyne Berezovsky will participate in the first stage of the 20th edition of the Santander International Piano Competition. Evelyne is one of twenty pianists to have been selected from the Paris, New York and Madrid auditions.
The Competition, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, will take place from 24th July to 5th August at the Palacio de Festivales of Cantabria in Santander. All at Purcell wish Evelyne the very best of luck as she progresses through the competition.
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op 58
Pianist and alumna Nafis Umerkulova has just released the footage of her 2019 performance at St John’s Smith Square with The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Director of Music Paul Hoskins. The performance was a part of her Darkness illuminated album launch, and is shared below.
Forthcoming Events
Wednesday 11 May – Music is Maths: Final Concert
Time: 19.00
Venue: The Purcell School, CP Hall
Tickets: Free admission
World-renowned mathematician Marcus du Sautoy and composer Emily Howard visited the school in March. They introduced our students to their work with PRISM at the Royal Northern College of Music and Oxford University, and led our new initiative ‘Maths is Music … Music is Maths’. High-level discussions about advanced mathematical and philosophical concepts inspired our students to create some of the works premiered tonight, all based on things such as geometrical shapes, numerical series, proofs or conjectures.
Wednesday 25 May – Creative Ensemble Concert
Time: 19.00
Venue: The Purcell School, Recital Room
Tickets: Free admission
Composer Daniel Fardon teaches at Purcell, and this year has run an innovative and unusual ensemble of very varied instruments that would not normally be played together. There is almost no repertoire written for this group, so our 6th form instrumentalists and singers improvise, devise and compose their own material for each other as they go. The result is often beautiful and dramatic, and always unpredictable!
Friday 27 May – Studio Ghibli Concert: Middle School Orchestra
Time: 13.00
Venue: The Purcell School, CP Hall
Tickets: Free admission
What is a better way to enjoy Friday lunchtime than with the colourful fantasy world of music from Studio Ghibli films? Music by Joe Hisaishi, which accompanies many of these animated films, is particularly memorable for its picturesque character. Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985, after the success of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), by the directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and the producer Toshio Suzuki. Six of Studio Ghibli’s films are among the 10 most successful anime films made in Japan, with Spirited Away (2001) at the top, and remain among the favourites of audiences of all ages. The composer Joe Hisaishi was recommended in 1983 to create an image album for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Hisaishi and the director Hayao Miyazaki subsequently became great friends. Castle in the Sky in 1986 was their first collaboration project under the Studio Ghibli title, followed by many others throughout the 1980s and 90s. This lunchtime we’ll take you through some wonderful tunes from Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, and Princess Mononoke!.
