Purcell Pianist Makes History in The Piano Final
We are thrilled to share that Year 8 jazz pianist Marcus delivered a standout performance in the final of Channel 4’s The Piano, which aired on Sunday 25th May. In a series first, Marcus was paired with fellow contestant Phil for a surprise duet, marking the inaugural duo performance in the show’s finale. Their collaboration showcased the profound connectivity inherent in jazz music, captivating both the judges and the audience.
Marcus’s soulful jazz interpretations and original compositions were a highlight of the evening. Notably, he performed his piece Blue Haze, inspired by Australia’s Blue Mountains, demonstrating his exceptional creativity and compositional skills.
The final episode is available to stream on Channel 4’s platform here.
Congratulations to Marcus on this outstanding achievement. We are immensely proud.
Purcell Student to perform at Glastonbury and Reaches Songwriting Finals
We are thrilled to share exciting news about Oscar, a Year 13 singer-songwriter. Oscar has been invited to perform at none other than Glastonbury Festival 2025! He will take to the Lizard Stage on Thursday 26th June at 3pm and showcase his music to a live festival audience.
In addition to this milestone, Oscar has also reached the top 30 finalists of the Song Academy Young Songwriter 2025 Competition. His track End of the Summer, co-written with Purcell alumnus Nathaniel Merkes, earned him a spot in this prestigious national competition.
Congratulations to Oscar on these brilliant achievements.
Not One but Two Students Celebrated in Songwriting Finals!
Oscar is not the only Purcell student to be recognised in this year’s Song Academy Young Songwriter Competition – we are equally delighted to announce that Willow (Year 10) has also been named one of the top 30 finalists in the 2025 edition.
Her original track, Hesitate, which was performed in School this week at a lunchtime concert (to huge applause!) was selected from hundreds of entries across the UK, showcasing her unique voice and songwriting talent.
Congratulations to both Oscar and Willow on their well-deserved recognition – we’re incredibly proud of you both!
Purcell Student Performs at Chesham Fringe Festival
Hot on the heels of a week filled with GCSE exams, Clara (Year 11) demonstrated true dedication and artistry by performing two solo 45-minute sets in one day – featuring mostly her own original songs.
Her main performance was part of Chesham’s 2nd Fringe Festival, held over the May Bank Holiday weekend, which featured a vibrant line-up of artists from the worlds of music, comedy and spoken word. Clara’s set was a standout moment, showcasing her songwriting talent and stage presence.
Adding to the occasion, several Purcell staff members – local to the area – were in the audience to cheer her on, making it a particularly special event.
Congratulations to Clara on managing exams and performances with such professionalism and flair!
We are thrilled to announce that two of our young pianists, Stephanie (Year 10) and Yazdi (Year 13), will be performing at the 2025 Lichfield Festival on Saturday 12th July, 12pm, as part of The Purcell School – Young Artists Series.
We are delighted to share that Dr Daniel Fardon, Teacher of Academic Music and Composition here at Purcell, is featured on the newly released London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) album, Panufnik Legacies IV. His composition, Flux, appears alongside works by some of the most exciting early-career composers in contemporary classical music today.
McMillan Cancer Support Recital