The Purcell School > News > Weekly Highlights > Weekly Highlights 24th February 2023

Weekly Highlights 24th February 2023

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

UKMT Intermediate Math Challenge 2023

A few weeks ago over 250,000 students from more than 3,000 schools across the UK participated in the Intermediate Maths Challenge aimed at Year 9, 10 and 11 pupils. Students had 60 minutes to answer 25 challenging multiple choice mathematical problems. Those who performed in the top 5% of the country achieve a gold medal certificate, those in the top 10% achieved silver and those in the top 25% achieved bronze.

We are delighted to announce the following certificate winners from our school.

Gold Medal – JiHyo (Year 11) and Cole (Year 11)
Silver Medal – Ella (Year 11), Melody (Year 11), Ireh (Year 9), Reeka (Year 9), Alex (Year 11) and Yifei (Year 11)
Bronze Medal – Yakub (Year 9), Celeste (Year 9), Kaelan (Year 10), Nemunis (Year 9), Grace (Year 9), Belinda (Year 10), Yazdi (Year 10), Teodora (Year 10), Arunima (Year 10) and Skye (Year 9)

This is a record number of medal winners in any UKMT competition for The Purcell School so we are all thrilled in the Maths Department and very proud of our students!

Furthermore, JiHyo is one of only 600 in the country to be invited for the Intermediate Olympiad follow on round which she will sit in March.

Congratulations to JiHyo and good luck for the next round!!

Well done from Ms Stone, Miss Mitchell and Mrs Shah!

Gold winners Cole and JiHyo with their teacher, Ms Stone

Purcell Pianists Feature On Channel 4’s ‘The Piano’

‘The Piano’ is a new TV talent competition on Channel 4 which aims to discover four of the UK’s top amateur pianists, in four of the best-known modern settings for the instrument – London St Pancra, Birmingham New Street, Leeds and Glasgow Central.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, with pop star Mika and virtuoso Lang Lang adjudicating, the amateur pianists share their personal stories and music with the public. The competition culminates in a grande concert finale at the Royal Festival Hall.

‘The Piano’ is a five-episode series, which started on Wednesday 15th February 2023, at 9pm on Channel 4. The episodes will air over five consecutive weeks, and we are thrilled to hear that not one but two Purcell pianists are taking part. Year 7 student Ilya gave a stunning performance in the very first episode, and Year 11 student Cole will feature in the forthcoming episode on Wednesday 1st March.

Ilya’s performance is still available to view on Channel 4 On Demand (07:52-10:51) here. It is something very special.

We wish Ilya and Cole every success. All of Purcell are behind you, and very proud!

Watford Music Festival

On Sunday 19th February, Year 9 saxophonist April took part in Watford Music Festival. She won first prize for saxophone, Second Prize for recorder and also received the overall Woodwind Prize. Well done, April!

Concerts Week in Review

The Concerts Department have hit the half term running with external concerts at Cedars Village and the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, as well as the Bösendorfer Piano Concert at Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts. In School, we saw the brilliant Middle School Orchestra Concertos Concert and enjoyed four Lunchtime Concerts.

Well done to all performers, soloists and composers: Cindy, Yifei, Hana, Yulin, Sebastian, Shlomi, Alex, April, Tessa, Maddie, members of the Middle School Orchestra, Birce, Tristan, Kaelan, Tim, Cole, Nemunis, Louis, Rhea, Patchubun, Emma, Luca, Herman, Anna, Ilya, Sonya, Gui, Rowena, Phoebe, Sebastian, Jennifer, Lindsey, Da In, Emma, Ivan, Oscar, Ivanna, Jessie, Ella, Ken, Miss Baxter, Mr. Longstaff, Mr. Jenkinson, Ruize and Nancy.

Alumnus Brings 15 Years of Saxophone to Cadogan Hall

Saxophonist and alumnus Tom Waters is celebrating 15 years of playing the saxophone with his band Electric People and an array of special guests at Cadogan Hall on Friday 5th May, 7.00pm.

Tickets go on sale today via the Cadogan Hall website here.

Patron Named Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music Director Emeritus

Purcell Patron Sir Andrew Davis has been named the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music Director Emeritus in honour of his more than two decades of service leading the company’s musical forces.

The title was bestowed at the opening performance of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, which saw Sir Andrew return as conductor for his first operatic production since he retired as Lyric’s Musical Director in 2021.

Purcell Taster Days

In addition to the already published Double Reed ‘Accelerate’ Day, we are also now running two free Purcell Taster Days on Sunday 26th March 2023 for the Commercial and Popular Music Department and Jazz Department.

These Taster Days are for young players of Grade 3 standard or equivalent and above, in Years 6-11. They are a fantastic opportunity to visit The Purcell School, meet our teachers and students, enjoy workshops and masterclasses, all while having a fun day of music making.

Sunday 26th March 2023
The Commercial and Popular Music Department: 2.00-3.30pm
Jazz Department: 3.30-5.00pm

Young musicians are welcome to attend one or both of the taster sessions. To take part please complete the registration form here. Further information will be sent to the registered email address before the event.

Please do feel free to share news of these events.