Weekly Highlights 13th June 2025

Purcell Clarinettist Invited to Guildhall Percussion Masterclass

Tom (Year 13 clarinet) was invited by Ryan Hepburn to perform as part of a percussion masterclass on Scandinavian repertoire at the Guildhall School of Music Drama on Tuesday, where he performed the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto alongside Ryan and Debbie Shah.

One of the weekly percussion classes for all undergraduate and postgraduate percussionists at the Guildhall School, this Tuesday’s class was part of a broader survey of repertoire by Danish and Norwegian composers, written either for solo percussion, or with prominent parts for percussion. Part of the class was dedicated to Danish symphonist Carl Nielsen, whose Symphony No. 5 and Clarinet Concerto were explored in detail. Known for their prominent snare drum parts, the Fifth Symphony requires the snare drummer to improvise a long passage with the intention of overwhelming the full orchestra, while the snare drummer in the Clarinet Concerto attempts to derail much of the concerto soloist’s playing.

During the class, Guildhall School percussionists listened to performances of the repertoire given by Ryan, before being joined by Debbie and Tom for a full performance of Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto. Tom spoke very eloquently about the piece to the Guildhall School students and staff before his performance, then proceeded to give a committed, technically polished and exciting performance of this fiendishly difficult work. A challenge for all three performers, the Clarinet Concerto is particularly difficult to perform in this chamber-like setting (without a conductor, and where each performer has to be acutely aware of balance and rhythmic interplay at all times). Tom‘s performance impressed everybody in the room and was a fabulous opportunity to build on connections between the Guildhall School and The Purcell School.

Many congratulations to Tom, a huge thank you to Debbie for her immaculate accompaniment and (as ever) her unflappable professionalism, to Stephen Williams (Tom‘s clarinet teacher) for all his help in preparing Tom on the piece and during the rehearsal process, and to Mike Cavanagh (Head of Wind,Brass & Percussion) for coming along to support the event during a very busy week!

Nutritious and Inventive: First Break with a Twist

First break at Purcell recently took on a creative and nutritious twist, thanks to the ingenuity of our fantastic catering team. Students were invited to enjoy ‘flavour your own’ popcorn, with a tempting array of spices and toppings available to customise each bag to individual taste – from savoury favourites to sweet treats.

Adding to the fun, a protein ball station was set up, giving students the opportunity to roll and shape their own healthy snacks. The activity proved hugely popular, combining good nutrition with a hands-on, interactive experience.

It was a brilliant initiative, helping to encourage healthy choices in an imaginative and engaging way. Judging by the enthusiasm from students, we’re certain this won’t be the last time we see creative snacks on offer at first break!

Football Tournament Brings Out Competitive Spirit

Sunday saw the return of the eagerly anticipated Purcell Football Tournament, an event that consistently surprises with the high standard of play and the skill on display from our talented musicians.

The drive and ambition we see in the practice rooms were equally evident on the pitch, with players showing passion, determination and teamwork as they battled for the coveted trophy. Despite being a five-a-side competition, the teams competed with intensity for over two hours to reach the final.

Special thanks go to Head of PE and Physical Wellbeing, Hannah Noonan, Estates Supervisor, Andy Milner, and former Head of Science, Panos Fellas, for their expert refereeing and invaluable support throughout the day.

One of the standout moments was Jessie’s (Year 13) winning penalty in the final – a fitting end to a brilliant afternoon of sport and camaraderie!

Purcell Physiotherapist Shares Expertise in Musicians’ Health

Next week, Dr Sarah Upjohn, Purcell’s Physiotherapist, will be presenting at the Society of Occupational Medicine National Conference in Brighton.

Dr Upjohn will introduce ‘A Symphony of Good Sense’, a guide she co-authored to help physiotherapists support the physical wellbeing of orchestral musicians. Commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Help Musicians UK, the guide was published earlier this year and is now freely available via the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) here and here.

We are proud that Dr Upjohn’s expertise in this area helps to support not only professional musicians nationally but also directly benefits our students at Purcell.

Jacob Collier Continues Global Success with Tour and New Announcements

We are delighted to celebrate the continuing success of Purcell alumnus Jacob Collier, whose extraordinary musical journey continues to make headlines around the world.

This month, Jacob captivated audiences with two sold-out performances at the prestigious Adelaide Cabaret Festival, where his signature blend of virtuosic musicianship, audience participation and warm, playful stage presence earned glowing reviews. Critics praised the shows as ‘unifying and unique musical experiences’, with Jacob once again transforming concert halls into collaborative, uplifting spaces of sound.

Looking ahead, Jacob has just announced the Australian leg of his Djesse World Tour, with dates confirmed for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne this December. Special guest Nai Palm (of Hiatus Kaiyote) will join him on stage for these eagerly anticipated performances.

Closer to home, Jacob will appear at this summer’s Love Supreme Jazz Festival in the UK, performing alongside industry icons such as Maxwell and Nile Rodgers & Chic.

In addition to his world tour success, Jacob continues to use his platform to promote social and environmental causes, recently supporting World Oceans Day through partnerships with Greenpeace and Aurora Music.

Concerts Review

Lunchtime Concerts
A wonderful week of lunchtime concerts: Brahms, Bartok, Ravel, Mouquet, Mozart, Grandjany and Debussy were our classical treats performed by Pijus, Anthony, Krystal, Patchubun, Rose, Elsa, Selin and Shlomi.

A fantastic jazz set was delivered by Marcus, Otto, Lucas, Natty and Sam consisting of self penned numbers by Marcus and a standard by Bobby Timmons.

Well done to everyone who performed this week.

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

Wednesday 18 June – St James’s Piccadilly Lunchtime Concert
Time: 1.10pm
Venue: St James’s Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Join exceptional Year 13 students from The Purcell School – winners of numerous performance prizes – in a lunchtime concert of outstanding music-making. The programme features a wide-ranging selection of works, from the intricate beauty of Bach’s Cello Suite No.4 to the intense emotions in Lowell Libermann’s flute sonata.

Programme:
Bach Cello Suite no 4: Prelude Allemande Bourree Gigue
Lowell Liebermann Flute Sonata
Bach WTC Book 1 no 13 Prelude and Fugue in F# Major
Lili Boulanger Prelude in D♭ Major
Julia Perry Prelude for Piano
Liszt Gnomenreigen
George Enescu Menetrier ‘The fiddler’
George Enescu Impromptu Concertant

Thursday 19 June – Caterina Grewe Piano Recital
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Programme:
F. Schubert (1797-1828)
Sonata No.14 in a-minor, D.784
Allegro giusto
Andante
Allegro vivace

N. Medtner (1880-1951)
Fairytales, Op.20 No.1 in b-flat minor
Forgotten Melodies, Op.39 No.4 ‘Canzona matinata’
Sonata in c-minor, Op. 39 No.5 ‘Sonata tragica’

R. Schumann (1810-1856)
Arabesque in C-Major, Op.18

R. Schumann (1810-1856)
Symphonic Studies, Op.13

Friday 20 June – Year 13 Lecture Recital
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Recital Room, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Three short lecture recitals by Year 13 Oxbridge Music offer holders.

Tuesday 24 June – Clare Teal with The Purcell School
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ
Tickets: £8-15 from Watford Palace Theatre box office

Celebrated vocalist Clare Teal will join Purcell’s outstanding Jazz, Commercial and Classical music students for a spectacular evening of her own music and arrangements at Watford Palace on Tuesday 24th June!

Tickets are £8-15 and available to purchase from the Watford Palace Theatre box office

Wednesday 25 June – Creative Ensemble Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Thursday 26 June – Singers Soirée
Time: 5.00pm
Venue: Recital Room, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Join us as our classical singers take to the stage for their final concert of the academic year. The Singers’ Soiree is always a highlight of the calendar, offering a rich and varied programme of vocal music, from timeless classics to hidden gems.

This concert is a celebration of their hard work and passion, providing a perfect finale to their musical year.

Performers: Kiah, Sonya, Craig, Mac, Solomiya, Suanoi, Jessie, Adi and Arabella

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the next generation of classical singers in an intimate and welcoming setting.

Thursday 26 June – Composition Department Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Monday 30 June – Inclusivity Group Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Tuesday 1 July – Wind Brass and Percussion Department Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Wednesday 2 July – Songwriters Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Thursday 3 July – Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Monday 7 July – Tchaikovsky and Sibelius and the Purcell School Symphony Orchestra
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Milton Court, 1 Milton St, London EC2Y 9BH
Tickets: £18 (£9 for concession) and available to purchase here

Programme:
Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet (Overture – Fantasia), TH 42, ČW 39
Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Dring Eternal Fall (WP)
Sibelius Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105

Soloist: Dominic-Lucian Drutac

Join The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra at Milton Court for an evening of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7, along with the Violin Concerto, performed by Purcell alumnus Dominic-Lucian Drutac. Conducted by Paul Hoskins, this performance promises to be a captivating celebration of music and talent.

Tuesday 8 July – Hit Replay!
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission, no booking required

Join us for Hit Replay!, a lively tribute to timeless songs from various decades, showcasing the beloved hits you recognise and can not resist singing along to.

Performed by the skilled students of Purcell’s Popular and Commercial Music department, this concert brings classic tracks to life with new energy and flair.