Welcome to the latest edition of Purcell’s Weekly Highlights!
Purcell Trumpeter Performs with National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
On Saturday 15th October, Year 10 trumpet player Rhys performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in a gala performance as part of the National Brass Band Championships, just prior to the announcement of the results. The programme included:
Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin – Wagner arr. Denis Wright
Resurgam – Eric Ball
Songs from the Auvergne – Canteloube arr. McGhee (soprano voice soloist Alexandra Oomens)
Padstow Lifeboat – Malcolm Arnold
Well done, Rhys, what a fantastic opportunity and programme.
Audition Workshop for Sixth Form Singers
On 7th October, the upper sixth form singers who will be auditioning for conservatoire places later this term were treated to a most instructive audition workshop taken by Tim Evans-Jones who is a singing professor at the Royal College of Music. He followed this with a masterclass for both the lower and upper sixth singers in which he gave them an insight into working at conservatoire level. All involved came away with some very useful advice and guidance. Many thanks to Tim who gives his time so generously on these occasions.
Concerts: A Week in Review
This week there was a lunchtime concert at the Holocaust’s Survivor Centre, a Sixth Form Concert for Friends of The Purcell School and five lunchtime concerts.
Well done to all the performers: Lavender, Celeste, Chloe, Hana, Alana, Arunima, Iklim, Rowena, Birce, Ozel, Lindsey, Joshua, Samuel, Benji, Phoebe, Rocco, Jiahao, Aaron and Chloe.
Of the concert at the Holocaust’s Survivor Centre, a member of the audience commented ‘The concert was absolutely fantastic and the members so enjoyed themselves . . . Please convey our thanks to all the musicians who played so beautifully’.
Video Highlight
We are thrilled to be able to share footage from this summer’s sensational Sound Image Movement (SIM) concert. A true highlight of our annual events schedule, if you missed the SIM concert in person, you are in for a treat now.
Organathon Update
A huge thank you to all who supported Purcell’s Principal, Paul Bambrough, in our recent Organathon.
Over the course of 24 hours, audiences both in person and online were treated to 12 solo organ recitals. It was an enormous and at times gruelling task, but Paul embarked upon the challenge with real dedication to raise funds for a new school organ and to mark the School’s 60th anniversary.
The Organathon kicked off in a packed CP Hall with an Opening Gala attended by students, staff, governors and the Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr John Graham. The music continued throughout the night with some intrepid students (to whom we must pay special thanks – they really kept morale up!), staff and members of the public in attendance, and ended with a Grande Finale entitled ‘Play Skillfully with a Loud Noise’.
So far Paul’s Herculean efforts have raised just over £9,000, and donations are still coming in.
A recording of the event can be found below, and if you would like to make a contribution to the fund, please do so here.
CIAC Choral Conducting Course
Not content with taking a well deserved rest during the school holidays, Purcell’s Aural and Choral Conducting Teacher Irina Walters has been busy teaching a choral conducting course organised by Cardiff International Academy of Conducting (CIAC). The course started back in May when eight participants had group sessions on Faure’s Requiem and selected a cappella pieces. The sessions included score analysis and working on conducting technique. Over the summer the participants had individual sessions in conducting and aural training, which all culminated in a live session in London this past week, when the participants worked on the selected movements on Faure and an a cappella piece with a professional choir.
Forthcoming Events
Saturday 12 November – An Evening Recital at Wigmore Hall
Time: 19.30 – 21.30
Venue: Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore St, London W1U 2BP, UK
Ticket information: Tickets are available for £16.00 and £12.00 (concs), with a £4 booking fee, from wigmore-hall.org.uk
