Weekly Highlights 25th November 2022

National Youth Choir of Great Britain

We were so pleased to hear from Purcell’s Junior Choir Director Irina Walters that two of our Lower School choir students, Marija (Year 7) and Willow (Year 8), have successfully passed the auditions to join the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Our congratulations to you both!
 

Purcell Pianist Perform in Cyprus

Year 10 pianist Anna has just returned from Cyprus where she performed in two Prize Winners’ Gala Concerts as part of the Solon Michaelides Competition. Anna studies at Purcell under Tessa Nicholson. We were thrilled to hear that both events were hugely successful. Well done, Anna!

Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra Young Musicians’ Competition

In last Friday’s Weekly Highlights (18th November), it was reported that some of our students had taken part in the recent Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra (WMSO) Young Musicians’ Competition. Unfortunately, Year 8 pianist David was omitted from this list in error. Our apologies to David, and congratulations once again to all who took part.
 

Purcell Cellist in FutureTalent Event

In exciting news, Year 8 cellist Yoko will play the first movement of Chopin’s Cello Sonata in a FutureTalent / Spotify event at The Charterhouse on Thursday 1st December. We wish Yoko the very best of luck!
 

Purcell Singers Visit RCM’s Britten Theatre

Just after half term, Nick Sears, Head of Singing and Opera at the Royal College of Music (RCM), came to Purcell to work with the singers. It was a hugely beneficial session and Nick’s knowledge and expertise in all things singing was both inspiring and informative for the singers. At the end of the session, he invited us to attend a dress rehearsal of Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach performed by the students on the Opera Course in the RCM’s Britten Theatre. This took place last Sunday (20th November) and a small band of Purcell singers went to the RCM and were thoroughly entertained by the excellent singing and the witty production. Thanks are due to Nick and his team who made us very welcome at the performance.
 

Alumnus wins Gregynog Young Musician of the Year 2022

In a very ‘proud school’ moment, we are delighted to share news that recent Purcell alumnus, Firoze Madon, has won the Gregynog Young Musician of the Year 2022. The prestigious competition was founded in 2005 and takes place annually at the highly acclaimed Gregynog Hall, which has a long history of association with music and the arts. Following a pre-selection round, seventeen musicians from across the UK progressed to the semi-final on 12th November. Firoze was selected as Gregynog Young Pianist of the Year and went on to win the overall title after competing at the evening’s final.

Firoze has also recently been a Keyboard Finalist at BBC Young Musician 2022, which was broadcast on BBC Four and Radio 3 this autumn. Huge congratulations to Firoze. All at Purcell are thrilled for you.
 

Purcell Physiotherapist Update

Sarah Upjohn, Purcell’s Physiotherapist, will tomorrow (Saturday 26th November) be presenting at the Australian Society of Performing Arts Health Conference. The event will take place in Sydney, Australia, but Sarah will be joining from the comfort of her own living room in Cambridge via Zoom (albeit at 4.50am because of the time zones!).

The presentation features the extensive work Sarah undertook with 28 University of Birmingham Physiotherapy Students and 1,500 performing artists in the rehearsals and live Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Very best of luck for Saturday, Sarah!

Concerts Week in Review

This week the School hosted some tremendous events! There were student-led Charity Concerts, a Jazz Concert, a Harp Department Concert, and three lunchtime concerts.

Well done to all who took part in these events for their brilliant performance: Jayden Vichean, Yagmur Erdogan, Ella Harrison, Da In Kim, Mina Hobson Mazur, Tifany Rodas, Noah Chiari, Ted Porter, Freddie Garner, Jack Manders, Djordje Jovanovic, Albert Atack, Angelica Coupland, Megan Visagie, Mahla Costello, Cole Lam, Johnathan Vel, Zaki Osahn, Ruby Cray, Julianna Galperina, Lucas Ngugi Heath , Louis Richardson, Freddie Faragher, Seth Wilsher, Rhys Stokes, Alex Holford, Skye Stokes, Belinda Mendes da Costa, Tessa Ractliffe, April Sobczak, Yulin Pan, Ken Ros Hirano, Chonchanok Sophonpanich, Ivanna Oliinyk, Ozel Gunhanlar, Shlomi Shahaf, Yazdi Madon, Reeka Manglicmot and Madeleine Jones.
 

Forthcoming Events

Thursday 1 December – Queen Elizabeth Hall
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Ticket information: Tickets are available from £15.00 to £45.00 with a £3.50 booking fee from southbankcentre.co.uk. Free admission for all students in higher education

This one is going to be truly mighty! The Purcell School performs Holst’s Planets Suite, alongside stunning works by Mica Levi and Beethoven, at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Thursday 1st December at 7pm.

Otis Enokido-Lineham will conduct, and Magdalene Ho will return on piano. We can not wait, and hope to see you there!

Sunday 4 December – Chamber Choir Advent Carol Service
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: St James’ Church, Bushey
Ticket information: Free admission with a retiring collection

Monday 5 December – Christmas Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: St Mary’s Church, Watford
Ticket information: Free admission

Featuring the Sixth Form Choir, Chamber Choir, Sixth Form Strings, Middle School Strings and Baroque Ensemble.

Sunday 15th January 2023 – Flute Day
Time: 2.00 to 5.00pm
Venue: The Purcell School
Tickets: Free of charge. Registration for the event is open on our website here
Requirements: For flautists in Years 5-11, of approximately Grade 4 standard and above

We are delighted to be able to invite young flautists (in years 5-11) to a free afternoon of workshops dedicated to all aspects of playing and performing this stunning instrument.

The afternoon, which begins at 2pm, will be run by our superb instrumental teachers, Clare Jefferis and Mark Taylor, who will share their expertise in a series of workshops covering all aspects of the flute and culminate in a group performance opportunity

To register your interest, please complete the following form here. https://www.purcell-school.org/flute-day/.

Registration Deadline: Friday 6th January 2023