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Weekly Highlights 20th September 2024

 

BBC Young Musician 2024 Live Auditions

We were thrilled to see Year 13 flautist Suanoi featured on the BBC Young Musician 2024 live auditions last Sunday (15th September). Suanoi, who studies at The Purcell School under Clare Jefferis and Mark Taylor, delivered stunning performances of Nocturne by Lili Boulanger and the fourth movement of Prokofiev’s Sonata for Flute and Piano for a distinguished panel of judges: trumpeter Alison Balsom, pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench and multi-instrumentalist and broadcaster Hannah Catherine Jones.

You can catch highlights from Suanoi’s audition on BBC iPlayer (48.22-54.00).

Suanoi is one of four students from The Purcell School participating in this year’s competition. The coverage will continue weekly on BBC FOUR at 7:30 pm (see schedule below). We encourage everyone to tune in and support our talented musicians as they represent The Purcell School!

Competition Broadcast Schedule:
Sunday 15th September: Highlights from the live auditions
Sunday 22nd September: Highlights from the live auditions
Sunday 29th September: Quarter-finals
Sunday 6th October: Quarter-finals
Sunday 13th October: Semi-final
Sunday 20th October: Grand Final

A special thanks to Debbie Shah, our dedicated accompanist, for her support during Suanoi’s audition.

Let’s continue to cheer on our young musicians!

Purcell Pianist Triumphs on the International Stage

Over the summer, Year 13 classical pianist Phoebe achieved remarkable success. She won 1st Prize in all International Piano Competitions she entered and gave prize winning performances in music festivals across Europe. Phoebe was awarded 1st Prize in The IMF International Piano Competition Paris, 1st Prize in The Mimas International Piano Competition Procida, 1st Prize in The IPPA Conero International Piano Competition, 1st Prize in The Pacific Stars International Piano Competition and she was the winner of the coveted ‘Pianale Publikumspreis’ in the Final of the 17th Pianale International Piano Competition, including an invitation to perform with the Beethoven Orchestra Hessen in Germany in November.

Phoebe also enjoyed invitations to perform in many music festivals this summer and travelled to Croatia to give a recital as part of the prestigious Piano Loop Festival, Italy to perform in the Mimas Festival, Florence to perform Rachmaninoff Paganini Variations Op. 43 with Orchestra Il Contrapunto in the Piano Concerto Festival and Paris to perform Chopin Concerto No. 1 Op.11 with Ensemble Les Virtuoses in the International Music Festival opening concert. She also enjoyed masterclasses with internationally renowned artists including Natalia Trull, Arie Vardi, Dina Yoffe and Akiko Ebi.

Phoebe has recently received news that she has been selected as the youngest participant to the exclusive Piano Academy Eppan which takes place this Autumn during half term in South Tyrol, Italy. This year the Academy had a record number of applications and chose only 24 of the world’s most exceptional young pianists aged 17 to 30.

On Saturday 14th September Phoebe performed a recital at the ‘Rising Stars Concert’ in Godalming together with Year 12 violinist Shlomi, Year 10 cellist Yoko and staff accompanist Debbie Shah. On 22nd September Phoebe will be performing Schoenberg Pierrot Lunaire Op. 21 as a member of the Purcell School Chamber Soloists in Wigmore Hall to mark Schoenberg’s 150th anniversary.

Tickets for Wigmore Hall are available through the link here.

Congratulations to Phoebe, who studies at Purcell under Cateria Grewe and William Fong, for these outstanding achievements. All at Purcell are incredibly proud of and for you.

Purcell Pianist Performs in Greece

On Friday 13th September, Year 12 pianist Anna captivated an audience of over 1,000 at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall in Greece.

Studying at Purcell under Tessa Nicholson, Anna had the honour of opening the concert season with a masterful performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, accompanied by the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ektoras Tartanis.

Congratulations to Anna on this fantastic performance. Here’s to many more!

Purcell Pianist Performs in China

Over the summer, Year 10 pianist Kevin gave two very significant performances in Shenzhen, China. Having been selected to take part in the 2nd Chinese Young Musicians Arts Festival, he performed the complete Grieg Piano Concerto on 21st July and an evening solo recital on the 22nd July.

Of these performances, a professor from the Chinese conservatoire commented that ‘Kevin is a young pianist of exceptional talent and creativity. He has developed a deep connection with the music, which is palpable during his performances. His engagement with the music is clear to the audience. He is so focused that the music seems to speak entirely through him. His ability to achieve so much in just five years of learning the piano at his age is truly impressive. We wholeheartedly recommend keeping an eye on this young, gifted pianist, whose performances are not only interesting but also unforgettable.’

Our congratulations to Kevin who studies at Purcell under Florian Mitrea.

Purcell Drummer to Perform at UK Drum Show

We are excited to announce that Year 13 drummer Jack has been selected to perform at the prestigious UK Drum Show in Liverpool. This annual event showcases some of the most talented drummers in the country and Jack’s selection is a fantastic achievement.

Jack‘s performance will take place at 4pm on Sunday 29th September. More information about the event can be found on the UK Drum Show website.

Purcell Violinist to Perform at Prestigious Charity Concert

We are thrilled to announce that Year 12 violinist Julia has won an audition to perform at the annual WE HAVE ONE WORLD UK charity concert in support of Save The Children UK. Julia will share the stage with renowned artist Sumina Studer on 29th September 2024 at Dartmouth House in Mayfair.

Adding to the significance of this event, rehearsals will take place at Florian Leonhard Fine Violins in London, where Julia will have the privilege of performing on a fine violin loaned specifically for the occasion.

Congratulations to Julia on this wonderful opportunity.

Purcell Clarinettist Beats Odds at New Talent Festival

Despite breaking a finger two weeks before the New Talent Festival at The Royal Academy of Music, and therefore being unable to practise at all, Year 11 clarinettist Matilda was astounded to win the first prize in her age category for Woodwind and Brass awarded by Fraser Gordon and John Hutchins. Matilda performed Elliot Carter’s Gra and Schumann’s Fantasiestucke to take the win.

Huge congratulations to Matilda on a great triumph in the face of adversity.

A Unique Evening of Music with Paul Bambrough

On Thursday 12th September, The Purcell School was treated to a remarkable performance by our Principal, Paul Bambrough. He captivated the audience with his own arrangement of JS Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations, masterfully played on the organ in CP Hall.

The warm and enthusiastic response from the students in the audience was particularly heartwarming, adding a special atmosphere to the evening. We are grateful to everyone who attended and made this truly unique event such a memorable occasion.

Pottery Win for Purcell Artist

It was particularly lovely for the Art Department to return to School to find out that one of our students had won a handicraft competition. During the summer break, Year 9 student Lucas entered a pottery cup and bowl which he had created at School into the Horningsea Horticultural Show and won first and second prize in the teenage handicraft class.

Video Spotlight

Newly released this week on Purcell’s YouTube channel was The Commonwealth Music Relay’s original song, Symphony.

The Commonwealth Music Relay is a unique pan-Commonwealth project created by The Commonwealth Resounds to celebrate the Commonwealth’s Year of Youth in 2023-4, in which, instead of a sports baton, a piece of music — Symphony — was passed around the world!

Symphony was composed by five young musicians from Malta, Nigeria, Antigua, Australia and India. The song was originally arranged by Year 13 student Cole and first performed by students from The Purcell School at St James’s Palace in September 2023. Since then, hundreds of schools, music groups, colleges and young musicians worldwide have created their own versions of the piece.

This video features the original arrangement of Symphony by Purcell students Cole, Ciara (now alumna) and Albert (Year 12), supported by fellow students Ali (alumnus), Louis (alumnus) and Ekaterina (Year 13).

Enjoy!

Forthcoming Events

In addition to those highlighted events below, please visit our new online Concerts and Events Guide.

Sunday 22 September – Wigmore Hall: Purcell School Chamber Soloists
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore St, London W1U 2BP
Tickets: Tickets from £18 (£16 concessions) available at the Wigmore Hall box office.

Schoenberg Pierrot Lunaire
Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (arranged by Iain Farrington)

A performance of Pierrot Lunaire is always a special event, all the more so when played by young people. Students from the UK’s oldest music school are joined by two international, prize-winning singers in a unique project to mark Schoenberg’s 150th anniversary.

Iain Farrington’s ingenious arrangement of Mahler’s youthful song cycle, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen for chamber orchestra, completes the programme.

Alexandra Lowe soprano
Claire Barnett-Jones mezzo-soprano
Paul Hoskins conductor


Wednesday 2 October – Sixth Form Performance Platform
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.


Saturday 12 October – Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival: Purcell School Showcase Concert
Time: 12.00pm
Venue: Marble Hall, Hatfield House, George’s Visitor Car Park, Great North Road, Hatfield AL9 5HX
Tickets: £12 adults, £5 4-18 year olds. Available from Hatfield House Music Festival website.

Come along to a Purcell Concert as part of the Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival in the wonderful Marble Hall of Hatfield House.

Programme:
Beethoven Piano Trio in D, Op. 70 No.1 ‘Ghost’
Mozart String Quartet in Bb, KV 458 ‘The Hunt’


Sunday 13 October – Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival: Pierrot Unmasked Concert
Time: 13.30pm
Venue: Marble Hall, Hatfield House, George’s Visitor Car Park, Great North Road, Hatfield AL9 5HX
Tickets: £5. Available from Hatfield House Music Festival website.

Stephen Johnson and Paul Hoskins explore the moonstruck musical world of Pierrot Lunaire with Claire Booth and The Purcell School students in the wonderful Marble Hall of Hatfield House.


Tuesday 15 October – Judy Carmichael and Sam Dunn Jazz Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required

Join us for an exciting concert with Grammy-nominated pianist and vocalist Judy Carmichael, one of the world’s leading interpreters of stride and swing piano. Known for her infectious personality and dynamic performances, Judy has played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to posh nightclubs in Paris and Melbourne.

With features on A Prairie Home Companion, NPR, CBS, and the BBC, Judy has also hosted the acclaimed Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired for 25 years. She’s authored two books on stride piano and a memoir, Swinger! A Jazz Girl’s Adventures From Hollywood To Harlem.

Tonight, Judy will perform with her longtime accompanist and Purcell School jazz guitar tutor, Sam Dunn, along with some of our talented jazz students.


Monday 11 November – Sinfonia Smith Square: Schubert, Strauss & Puccini
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Sinfonia Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA
Tickets: £10-20. Available from the Sinfonia Smith Square website.

Students from The Purcell School return to Sinfonia Smith Square for their flagship autumn concert. Ensembles from all classical departments present a varied programme of music linked by themes of Remembrance.

Benjamin Britten Fanfare for St Edmunsbury
Arvo Pärt Fratres
Karl Fiorini Pentimenti
Felix Mendelssohn (arr. Dmitry Sitkovetsky) Letters in Music
Richard Strauss (arr. D. Sitkovetsky) Sextet from Capriccio, Op. 85
Franz Schubert Psalm 23
Richard Strauss Serenade in E-flat Major, Op. 7