Weekly Highlights 27th September 2024

Purcell Students Perform at Tramlines Festival

In July, Rhys (Year 12, trumpet), Skye (Year 11, baritone horn and trombone) and Glyn (Year 7, trumpet) were invited by Sheffield Music Hub to join with their Senior Orchestra in the culmination of their Studio Orchestra project at the Tramlines music festival in Sheffield. The project has seen the orchestra working with local singers and rap artists alongside composer and conductor George Morton to write full orchestral accompaniments to the artists’ own songs. This finale to the project saw the artists and the orchestra perform these works, as well as excerpts from Stravinsky’s Firebird, on the main stage of the Tramlines Festival. Other artists featured on this stage over the weekend included the likes of Paolo Nutini, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jamie T and Snow Patrol!

What a fantastic experience for Rhys, Skye and Glyn. Here’s to many more!

Purcell Trumpeter and the National Children’s Brass Band

At the start of the summer, Year 7 trumpeter Glyn spent a week at the prestigious Stonyhurst College in Lancashire on a residential course with the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain. The Band, celebrating its 20th anniversary, had a week of individual, small and large ensemble sessions culminating in a concert at the Martin Harris Arts Centre, Manchester University. The course was led by founder conductor Lynda Nicholson who had returned to celebrate this anniversary, and featured favourite works from across the past 20 years, as well as the world premiere of the specially commissioned Megamix, written for the Band by Charlotte McGregor-Graham. The Band also reconvened in early September at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, to give a performance ahead of the Gala Concert of the British Open Brass Band Championships.

Congratulations to Glyn on an exceptionally well spent summer!

Purcell Violinist’s Incredible Summer

We are delighted to share the impressive accomplishments of Year 10 violinist Kutay, who enjoyed an extraordinary summer filled with remarkable opportunities.

Kutay was accepted into the prestigious Philadelphia Music Festival – Solo Performance Programme, where he had the chance to study with members of the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. His time at the festival culminated in a gala performance in Philadelphia, USA.

In addition to this, Kutay was also honoured as an award winner by Young Sounds UK and invited to the Royal Albert Hall for a special BBC Proms Experience Day. As part of this programme, 24 young musicians, including Kutay, have been paired with mentors from one of the five BBC Orchestras. Over the upcoming academic year, Kutay will benefit from 1:1 mentoring sessions, gaining invaluable insight from professional musicians. He will also attend a series of Insight Days, where he will have the opportunity to play alongside BBC musicians and explore both on-stage and off-stage careers in music.

Congratulations to Kutay‘s on these outstanding achievements.

(1st photo ©: Hetti Prior-PIMF | 2nd photo ©: Matthew Tiller)

Year 12 Clarinettist Shines in Summer Concerto

We are thrilled to announce that Year 12 clarinettist Marina successfully auditioned to perform a concerto with orchestra during the summer holiday. As part of the European Youth Summer Music course, Marina delivered an outstanding performance of Rossini’s Introduction, Theme and Variations with the orchestra during the course’s final concert.

Congratulations to Marina.

Purcell Student Places High at Charity Fun Run

It was a great pleasure to hear that on Sunday 22nd September, Year 7 student Luca took part in the Moor Park Fun Run. Luca ran 2.6k at the event, which took place at Merchant Taylors’ School in aid of Mount Vernon Cancer Care, and placed 5th out of 35 competitors.

A big congratulations to Luca.

Exciting News from Daniel Fardon

We are delighted to share news that Purcell’s teacher of Composition, Daniel Fardon, has recently been appointed Artistic Director of Hackney Music Live, a charity committed to enriching the vibrant community of Hackney through live music. Under Daniel‘s new leadership, Hackney Music Live has just launched its 2024-25 concert series, showcasing the talents of several Purcell teachers.

The first concert in this exciting series will take place on Sunday 13th October, at Sutton House. This intimate lunchtime piano recital will be performed by one of our own instrumental teachers, pianist Nafis Umerkulova. Tickets are available on the Hackney Music Live website, along with further details about the concert series.

Daniel’s vision for Hackney Music Live is to bring the magic of live music to the community and his 2024-25 program features performances from Purcell teachers including Nafis Umerkulova, Vitaly Pisarenko, Amy Green, Naomi Sullivan and Morta Grigaliūnaitė.

Please join us in congratulating Daniel and supporting the brilliant Purcell faculty involved in this initiative. For more information, including tickets and upcoming events, please visit the Hackney Music Live website.

Concerts Review

Sunday 22nd September – The Purcell School Chamber Soloists at Wigmore Hall
A performance of Pierrot Lunaire is always a special event, all the more so when played by young people. Our students were joined by two international, prize-winning singers, Claire Barnett-Jones and Alexandra Lowe, in a unique project at Wigmore Hall to mark Schoenberg’s 150th anniversary. Iain Farrington’s ingenious arrangement of Mahler’s youthful song cycle, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen for chamber orchestra, completed the programme.

The Purcell School Chamber Soloists is a new, flexible group that can include any number of teenage musicians studying at The Purcell School. It is conceived to provide significant opportunities and experiences for those who would most benefit.

Students played this incredibly complex music to a large and attentive audience and it was very well received. Congratulations to all those who took part – Suanoi, Ekaterina, Thomas, Birce, Rebecca, Isabella, Dianna, Ella, Jessie, Aaron, Anna, Tristan, Yazdi, Phoebe, Trevor, Hannah and Prince. Students were also joined by staff members Stephen Williams (clarinet) and Paul Hoskins (conductor).

Forthcoming Events

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

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