The Purcell School > News > Weekly Highlights > Weekly Highlights 11th July 2025

Weekly Highlights 11th July 2025

Prize-Giving Ceremony

On Wednesday 9th July, all of Purcell gathered al fresco on the field for one of the most treasured moments of the academic calendar – our annual Prize-Giving Ceremony. Blessed with sunshine, students, staff and families came together to celebrate the achievements of the year, honour our prize winners and bid a heartfelt farewell to our outgoing Year 13 students.

Mr Bambrough (Principal) spoke movingly about the dedication, spirit and resilience shown by our students this year. He was followed by the three Heads of School – Ramona, Suanoi and Phoebe – who each addressed the audience with such warmth and sincerity that there wasn’t a dry eye by the time they finished.

This year’s awards were presented by Mr Long (Head of Teaching and Learning), Mrs Mitchell (Director of Boarding) and Mr Hoskins (Director of Music), recognising students’ remarkable contributions and successes across academic study, boarding life and music-making.

After the ceremony, everyone enjoyed a relaxed barbecue in the sunshine – a perfect chance to share memories, laughter and good wishes for the summer ahead.

It was a fitting celebration of a fantastic year and an emotional send-off for our Year 13 students as they move on to new adventures. We wish them every happiness and success for the future – and we hope they know that they will always have a home here at Purcell.

New Partnership to Support Rising Young Talent

We are delighted to announce that The Purcell School has formed a new partnership with the New Talent Festival — an international platform founded by violinist Amy Yuan to discover and nurture exceptional young musicians worldwide.

Many of our students have already benefitted from the Festival’s inspiring opportunities, and we’re thrilled to build on this connection by offering a special prize: a place at The Purcell School for a talented young performer selected through the Festival.

This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting young musicians from all backgrounds, helping them find their artistic voice and flourish within our vibrant community. We look forward to working closely with the Festival and its network of partner organisations to open doors for the next generation of musical talent.

Find out more about the New Talent Festival here.

Full press release is available here.

Drum Recording Masterclass with Mike Senior

On Wednesday 25th June, our Year 12 Music Technology students were treated to an inspiring drum recording masterclass by renowned engineer, author and educator Mike Senior.

Mike is well known for his popular books Recording Secrets for the Small Studio and Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio, as well as his long-running columns in Sound On Sound magazine, where he shares professional recording and mixing techniques accessible to everyone.

During the session, Mike demonstrated practical drum mic placement, phase alignment and compression techniques, showing students how to get a polished drum sound straight from the source. His hands-on approach and wealth of industry experience gave our students invaluable insights and real-world skills they can take straight into their own projects.

A huge thank you to Mike for an engaging and inspiring session. We look forward to welcoming him back in the future!

Concerts Review

Singers’ Soiree – Thursday 26th June
On Thursday 26th June, the Recital Room saw our classical singers take centre stage for their final concert of the academic year – the much-loved Singers’ Soirée. This intimate evening has become a highlight of our calendar and one which celebrates the dedication, skill and passion of our vocal students.

This year’s Soirée featured a beautifully varied programme of timeless arias, art songs and favourite duets, with works by Mozart, Handel, Schubert, Puccini and more. The singers – Kiah, Sonya, Craig, Mac, Solomiya, Suanoi, Jessie, Adi and Arabella – performed with style and a maturity beyond their years, delighting the audience with solo moments and memorable ensembles alike.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Tom Marandola for arranging this special concert with such care and dedication.
We look forward to hearing these remarkable voices continue to flourish next year and beyond.

Songwriter’s Concert – Wednesday 2nd July

Last Wednesday, the CP Hall resonated with the authentic sounds of tomorrow’s songwriters at Purcell’s Songwriters’ Concert. This special evening shone a spotlight on our students’ creativity and individuality, with 24 original songs composed, arranged and performed entirely by Purcell students from across all year groups.

The audience was treated to an inspiring range of musical styles and line-ups – from intimate solo piano ballads to string quartets, harp and brass accompaniments, and full bands bringing bold new works to life. This rich variety of ensembles and genres showcased the breadth of imagination and skill thriving within our Commercial and Popular Music Department.

It was wonderful to hear the exceptional work of Clara, Lilly, Oscar, Willow, Adi, Lia, Lara, Albert, Cole, Gabriel, Clementine, Dom, Alex and Ramona – each of whom performed their own original songs with artistry and confidence. Their performances reflected the unique voices and visions that make Purcell’s songwriters so exciting.

For our older students, the concert was a fitting celebration of all they have achieved during their time at Purcell. For our younger songwriters, it was a chance to share their emerging voices.

A big thank you to every songwriter, performer and member of staff who brought this memorable evening to life. We can’t wait to hear where these voices – and their songs – will take us next!

Tchaikovsky and Sibelius at Milton Court – Monday 7th July
On Monday 7th July, The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra – over 75 students strong – delivered a powerful end-of-year performance at Milton Court Concert Hall. Under the baton of Head of Music Paul Hoskins, the orchestra performed a stirring programme including Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 7.

Highlights included the premiere of Eternal Fall by student composer Dring and a stunning rendition of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto by recent alum Dominic-Lucian Drutac. The evening was a vibrant celebration of the students’ hard work and musical achievement, with an atmosphere that reflected the enthusiasm of both performers and audience alike.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Hit Replay! – Tuesday 8th July
Our Hit Replay! concert was an unforgettable highlight of the term, bringing the CP Hall to life with a sensational tribute to iconic songs from across the decades. The evening opened in style with a powerful performance of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, delivered by Oscar (Year 13) and Clara (Year 11), setting the tone for a night brimming with energy and talent.

From the soulful Oscar Winning Tears by Raye to the punchy funk of Level 42’s Mr Pink, the atmospheric In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins and classics like Bennie and the Jets and Creep, every song was brought to life with fresh passion and flair. The range was as impressive as the performances themselves.

The evening showcased an extraordinary number of students who were supported throughout by Purcell’s growing number of session bands, including Pete Billington’s Bands, the Rock Band, Simon Allen’s Band, Simon Speare’s Band and Dan Drury’s Band.

A huge thank you to all the performers: Adi, Albert, Alex, Amelie, Angelica, April, Begum, Bettina, Carla, Chaeyu, Clara, Clementine, Cole, Daria, Dianna, Elliott, Flo, Gabriel, Grace, Harry, Ireh, James, Julianna, Keir, Larissa, Lia, Lilly, Lilly, Lily, Mahla, Matilda, Natalie, Natalie, Natty, Nina, Oliver, Oscar, Ramona, Rebecca, Reeka, Rhys, Ruby, Samuel, Selin, Seth, Siyue, Skye, Theo, Trevor, William, Willow, Yoel and Yulin.

Special mentions must also go to our fantastic comperes – Ostap and Alex – and to all the students who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and front of house. Enormous thanks also to Mr Eccles for his dedicated tech support in the run up to and throughout the evening. The efforts of all involved made this a standout moment for our students and staff alike.

Surround Sound – Tuesday 8th July
Before the main event, audiences were treated to Purcell’s first ever Surround Sound pre-concert – an innovative and immersive experience that transformed the CP Hall into a space of sonic and visual exploration.

This experimental showcase featured original surround sound compositions paired with evocative moving images, setting the perfect mood for the high-energy evening to follow. Highlights included compelling new works by Natty, Albie, Sofiia and Tim, amongst others, whose pieces demonstrated the creative possibilities of sound and film combined.

What began as a last-minute addition quickly became a brilliant warm-up for Hit Replay!. Mr Goetzee hopes this unique format will inspire future performances, opening up exciting opportunities for students to experiment, collaborate and push creative boundaries.

We look forward to seeing where this innovative strand of performance will lead next!