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Weekly Highlights 10th January 2025

South Yorkshire Orchestral Collective and the Music For Youth Proms

At the end of November 2024, Year 12 trumpeter Rhys, Year 11 trombonist Skye and Year 7 trumpeter Glyn were invited to return to work with the newly-formed South Yorkshire Music Hub (a collaboration between Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster Music Hubs) and their flagship South Yorkshire Orchestral Collective.

They participated in a weekend of workshops alongside members of the orchestra and music leaders as well as guests from the Royal Northern College of Music working on special compositions for the event. The workshop weekend culminated with two evening performances for family and local dignitaries, hosted at the spectacular Kelham Island Museum. The programme was:

May Payne, orchestral accompaniment arr Hannah Lam Lantern Flies
May Payne, orchestral accompaniment arr Hannah Lam High Demand
Kyle Osborn and Zuc Zoey Symbiosis (world premiere)
Hans Zimmer, arr Iain Farrington Earth

On the following Thursday, Rhys, Skye and Glyn met up again with the South Yorkshire Orchestral Collective who had travelled down to London for the culmination of this project – to appear as the centrepiece orchestra at the Music For Youth (MFY) Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. This event featured 10 different youth music ensembles ranging from the orchestra to steel pans, big band, raga and tala groups, choirs and folk ensembles. The Orchestra Collective performed the pieces from the weekend’s workshops above, plus The Colour of All Things Constant by Cassie Kinoshi, specially commissioned for the event by MFY, ABRSM and the Royal Albert Hall.

Earth (Zimmer) was used as the MFY Prom’s grand finale, and was performed by the massed forces of all of the evening’s performers – in excess of a thousand young musicians!

What an extraordinary experience for Rhys, Skye and Glyn! One for the memory books and of which all at Purcell are incredibly proud.

Purcell Guitarist Shines with the British Youth Music Theatre

Over the summer, Year 11 guitarist William had the wonderful opportunity to play both acoustic and electric guitar in the pit orchestra for the production of ‘The Power of Camelot’ at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre. This musical theatre production was one of seven brand-new British musicals created for the British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) as part of its 20th-anniversary season.

William’s journey with BYMT continued on Sunday 1st December 2024, when he performed at their showcase event at Shoreditch Town Hall. This special evening celebrated all the productions created throughout the year and brought together young talent from across the country.

BYMT, a national performing arts education charity and one of fifteen National Youth Music Organisations, is co-funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education. The charity plays a vital role in nurturing young artists and helping them progress in their training and careers in the arts.

As a result of William’s participation, he has been awarded a Distinction in Grade 8 Musical Theatre in Production from Trinity College London.

What a fantastic achievement, and one which really reflects his growing skill and passion for music and theatre. Congratulations to William on these outstanding accomplishments!

Purcell Violinist Success at the Odin International Music Competition

Congratulations to Year 11 violinist Ireh, who achieved an outstanding second prize in the XIII Odin International Music Competition over the Christmas holidays.

Ireh studies at Purcell under Aiste Dvarionaite Berzanskiene who shared how ‘incredibly proud’ she is of her achievement. We all join Aiste in congratulating Ireh.

Life Drawing Session Brings Art and Movement to Life

At the end of last term, our Year 11, 12 and 13 Art students participated in a truly inspiring life drawing session led by renowned artist Cheryl Gould. This unique workshop combined artistic experimentation with a celebration of movement and form, creating a vibrant and immersive experience for our talented young artists.

Cheryl Gould, an elected member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, brought her passion for the human form to the session. Known for her work in ceramics, bronze, glass and prints, Cheryl shared insights into her creative process, describing how drawing serves as the foundation of her art: ‘My drawings are the threads that weave my ideas together; I draw constantly to express my ideas so that life can be breathed into my sculpture,’ she explained.

Joining Cheryl was model Ziggi Flame, whose dynamic energy brought the session to life. Ziggi is a freelance model and performer with over eight years of experience spanning dance, fire and aerial performances, and even appearances in music videos. Her dance background added a dramatic and expressive dimension to the session, inspiring students to push their creative boundaries.

The workshop not only allowed students to explore new techniques but also emphasized the connection between art and movement, culminating in some exceptional work from our young artists.

Thank you to Cheryl and Ziggi for sharing their talents and inspiring our students.

Alumnus wins Prix Élan 2024

We are delighted to spotlight alumnus Arnau Brichs, a young composer from Barcelona, who is currently garnering international acclaim following a series of prestigious competition triumphs.

Notably, Arnau swept the Prix Élan 2024 in France, claiming all three prizes – the jury prize, the orchestra prize and the audience prize – while also securing a win in the WCSMS Promising Young Composers Competition in the United States and the Eric Coates Prize in the United Kingdom.

Arnau’s award-winning composition, Degrees of Presence, was created using Dorico music notation software. In a recent interview, he shared insights into his creative process, discussing how he explores innovative techniques and balances technical precision with emotional depth in his work.

Our congratulations to Arnau.

Concerts Review

Florian Mitrea Performance Concert
On Monday 9th December 2024, the Recital Room came alive with a fantastic evening of piano music. Students of Florian Mitrea captivated the audience with a very special programme of pieces they had been working on during the autumn term. Well done to all those who performed.

John Dankworth Jazz Night
On Wednesday 11th December 2024, the Purcell Jazz Department presented a sensational evening of music celebrating the work of Jazz legend John Dankworth. Well done to the Purcell Improv Group, Jazz Ensemble, Middle School Jazz Group and the Purcell Big band with very special guests Alec Dankworth on bass and Mark Nightingale on trombone.

Harp Department Concert
On Thursday 12th December 2024, an intimate and magical lunchtime concert was given in the Liszt Room by the Purcell harpists. Well done to Stephanie, Farrah, Selin, Willow and Saule for your performances.

Lunchtime Concerts – w/c 9th December 2024
The last week of the autumn term saw a huge mixture of genres performed in the lunchtime concerts: from the Baroque and Classical periods to jazz, pop and Christmas tunes!

Thank you and well done to Selin, Lily, Yisen, Hannah, Kiah, Seth, Otto, Lucas, Flo and Mahla and a big thank you to Simon Speare‘s Tuesday Band who took on the final Lunchtime Concert of the term and gave us a fantastic send off to Christmas. Well done to Gabriel, Clara, Ruby, Mahla, William, Arlon, James, Willow, Julianna and Flo.

Lunchtime Concerts – w/c 6th January 2025
A fantastic start to the spring term with Hiroatsu playing Liszt and Chopin piano pieces and two great original songs from Oscar. Well done also to Stephanie and Zev for a wonderful piano duet on Wednesday and Dianna for your performance of Britten’s Lachrymae on Friday.

Upcoming Piano Course: Exploring Bach

From 28th February to 2nd March 2025, Purcell’s Keyboard Department will host a three-day piano course, ‘Introducing Bach for Pianists: How to Decipher His Keyboard Scores for the Modern Pianist’.

Led by renowned Bach experts Colin Booth and Steven Devine, the course offers fascinating insights into Bach’s keyboard works and is open to spectators. It’s an inspiring event for young pianists, teachers and Bach enthusiasts alike.

For the full schedule and spectator details, please click here.

We’d love your help in spreading the word! Please feel free to share details of this unique event with friends, family and fellow music lovers.

Forthcoming Events

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

Wednesday 5 February – Leeds International Concert Season: Lunchtime Concert
Time: 1.05pm
Venue: Leeds Conservatoire
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Programme to include:
Debussy Syrinx (for solo flute)
Debussy Danses Sacree et Profane (for harp and string quartet)
Lili Boulanger Nocturne (for flute and piano)
Poulenc Duo (for two clarinets)
Ravel Jeux d’eau (arr. for solo harp)
Ravel Introduction and allegro (or flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet)

Additional information is available here.

Saturday 8 February – Berkhamsted Jazz Club: The Purcell School Jazz Ensemble with Derek Nash and Martin Shaw
Time: 8pm
Venue: Berkhamsted Jazz Club, The Civic Centre, High Street, Berkhamsted HP4 3HD
Tickets: £20 (concs. £6-14) and available to purchase here.

As part of the BJazz initiative to Showcase Emerging British Talent, the saxophone-led Big Band from The Purcell School will present a high energy mixture of well-known jazz standards, as well as Derek Nash’s own compositions, in a huge variety of styles. The band will be led by Martin Shaw to a programme produced by Simon Allen, both luminaries of Jazz in Britain.

Warming up the stage will be alumnus Louis Richardson’s Fusion Trio, featuring current Purcell students Natty and Sam (Year 13).

Programme
6:45pm: Early doors
7:10pm: Louis Richardson Fusion Trio
8:00pm: The Purcell School Jazz Ensemble led by Martin Shaw (trumpet), with special guest star Derek Nash (saxophone)

For more information, please visit the Berkhamsted Jazz Club’s website.

Monday 10 February – Cadogan Hall: Ravel, Beethoven and Dvořák
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London
Tickets: Prices from £20 to £30, available here

Marking the year of Ravel’s 150th anniversary, the programme opens with his Mother Goose Suite. The piece, originally written as a five-movement piano duet in 1910, was orchestrated by Ravel in 1911.

Alumnus Herman Cerisha returns to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, and Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony completes the programme.

Wednesday 12 February – New Sounds 25 Concert
Time: 7pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, with donations to the School kindly received

Join us for an exciting and varied celebration of new music written by young composers from all age groups throughout the Purcell.

Wednesday 26 February – Wind, Brass and Percussion Showcase Concert
Time: 7pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, with donations to the School kindly received