Purcell Singer-Songwriter Featured on BBC Introducing
Exciting news for Year 13 singer-songwriter Oscar! His track ‘Victoria Line’, which also features the vocals of Year 13 singer Clementine, has been selected for airplay on BBC Music Introducing in the South West.
The song was broadcast on Thursday 30th January, across BBC Radio Cornwall, Devon and BBC Sounds, with a repeat airing on Saturday 1st February. This is a fantastic recognition of Oscar’s talent, and we look forward to hearing more from him in the future!
Tune in live or catch up via BBC Sounds here. Congratulations, Oscar and Clementine.
Purcell Pianist Named Kingston Young Musician 2025
We are thrilled to celebrate the recent achievement of Elizabeth, a Year 7 piano student who studies at Purcell under Danielle Salamon.
Last Saturday night, Elizabeth took part in the final of the Kingston Music Festival, where selected winners from various instrumental categories were invited to perform. Her outstanding performance earned her the prestigious title of Kingston Young Musician 2025!
A huge congratulations to Elizabeth on this remarkable accomplishment.
Purcell Violinist’s Musical Achievements Over the Holidays
We are delighted to share the incredible accomplishments of Kutay (Year 10, violinist) over the Christmas break.
Kutay’s Christmas holiday was nothing short of extraordinary. Fresh off his solo debut with the London International Concert Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Walker at St. James Piccadilly, he was accepted into the highly selective Winter Solo Performance Intensive Programme in Miami – an opportunity reserved for just 25 string players worldwide.
During the programme, Kutay had the privilege of studying with esteemed members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and renowned violinists such as Elli Choi, the third-place winner of the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition. His experience culminated in a performance at the Concerto Concert in Miami, marking an unforgettable and rewarding musical journey.
Congratulations to Kutay on these outstanding achievements!
Purcell Clarinettist Advances in BYMT Competition
Congratulations to Marina (Year 12, clarinet) on her outstanding achievement! As Principal Clarinet of the Bromley Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO), Marina has been selected to advance to the next stage of a prestigious closed competition for Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT) advanced musicians.
This competition has a history of producing exceptional musicians, with previous winners including Emma Johnson and Maxine Kwok. Marina now progresses to the next level, representing Bromley Music Trust in Sheerness.
We wish Marina the very best for the next stage of this exciting journey!
Purcell’s Junior Composer in Association Premieres New Work at the Barbican
We are thrilled to share the exciting news of Lara Agar, Purcell’s Junior Composer in Association, whose latest composition was premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) at a packed Barbican on Sunday.
The performance was met with great enthusiasm, with The Guardian highlighting the event in their review. This is a remarkable achievement for Lara and we look forward to seeing her continue to make waves in the world of composition.
Read more about the performance here.
Nicholas Daniel to Step Down from Britten Sinfonia
Earlier this week Nicholas Daniel OBE, alumnus and founding member of Britten Sinfonia, announced that he will step down as Principal Oboe in April. His Co-Principal, Peter Facer, will take on the full role.
Nicholas will bid farewell to his post following a special performance of Messiaen’s Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum at St George’s Catholic Cathedral, London, on 30th April, where he will conduct Britten Sinfonia and Sinfonia Smith Square. This concert will serve as a tribute to his 33 years of dedication to the orchestra. Further details are available here.
We celebrate Nicholas’s tenure with Britten Sinfonia and eagerly look forward to seeing his continued impact in the world of music.
Concerts Review
Lunchtime Concerts
Two twentieth century works opened our week: the first movement of Jolivet’s flute concerto (1950) and a mesmerising performance of Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet (1907). Tuesday continued in the same century bringing contrasts of solo guitar pieces and Saint-Saëns Cavatine for trombone. Wednesday and Friday brought us back in time to the 19th century (Beethoven) and the 18th Century (Haydn and Schubert) with a small excursion back to the 20th Century with the Armenian Folk Song Loosin Yelav, arranged by Berio.
Well done to Suanoi, Julia, Sonya, Harry, Jessie, Anna, Ekaterina, Kateryna, Alex, Solomiya, Miruna, Anthony, Hannah and Fabienne.
Forthcoming Events
In addition to those highlighted events below, please visit our new online Concerts and Events Guide here.
Wednesday 5 February – Leed 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 Purcell School’s Jazz Ensemble 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, no booking required
Join us for an exciting and varied celebration of new music written by young composers from all age groups throughout the Purcell.
Sunday 16th February – Bechstein Hall Young Artist Series
Time: 10.30am
Venue: Bechstein Hall, 22 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RH
Tickets: Available from £5 here
Begin your Sunday morning with a delightful 45 minute performance by two Purcell students.
Programme:
Harp
Henriette Renié Legende
E.A. Walter-Kühne Fantasy on Themes from Eugene Onegin
Paul Patterson Tarantula, from Spiders
Piano
Scriabin Sonata No.5
Chopin Scherzo No.3
Tickets include bottomless coffee, and freshly baked pastries will be available to purchase.
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