Weekly Highlights 16th January 2026

Posted: 16th January 2026

Daniel Fardon appointed Head of Composition and Contemporary Music

We are delighted to announce that Dr Daniel Fardon has been appointed Head of Composition and Contemporary Music at The Purcell School, with effect from September 2026.

Currently a teacher of composition at Purcell, Daniel succeeds Alison Cox, who retires at the end of the 2025-26 academic year after nearly four decades of exceptional service. His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Composition Department, combining continuity with ambitious artistic leadership.

An award-winning composer and dedicated educator, Daniel’s work has been recognised with an Ivor Novello Award and the Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize, broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and performed by leading ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra. He brings a wealth of creative and educational experience to the role.

We look forward to welcoming Daniel into his new position and to the future of composition at The Purcell School.

Read the full press release here.

Planned New Sixth Form Course: RSL Diploma in Creative Music Industries

The Purcell School is planning to introduce the RSL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Music Industries as a new Sixth Form pathway from September 2026, subject to demand.

Designed for students aged 16–19, this two-year, vocational qualification offers a practical, industry-focused alternative to traditional academic routes. Students would specialise in one of four pathways: Pop Performance, Classical Performance, Composition or Music Production, developing advanced musical skills alongside a real-world understanding of today’s creative industries.

Assessment is entirely coursework based, with students building a portfolio through performances, compositions, recordings and industry-style projects. The Diploma includes both subsidiary options (which can be studied alongside A Levels) and an extended diploma equivalent in size to three A Levels.

The full press release and further information about the course are available on our website.

Families interested in learning more about this planned new course are warmly invited to attend our forthcoming Open Morning on Sunday 1 February, where staff will be available to discuss the Diploma alongside our wider Sixth Form provision.

Booking is required for the Open Morning, please register here.

Purcell Percussionist Performs with London Schools Symphony Orchestra

Congratulations to Year 10 percussionist Emil, who performed with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra at their recent concert at the Barbican.

The London Schools Symphony Orchestra has two more concerts planned this year and will embark on a tour of Spain in the summer. Further information is available here.

Alumnae Achievements

We are delighted to celebrate the recent successes of our alumnae in the world of professional music. Evie Rogers has joined the Second Violin section of the BBC Philharmonic, continuing her remarkable musical journey. Meanwhile, Olwen Miles has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Emily Anderson Violin Prize, recognizing her outstanding talent and promise as a violinist. We are proud to see our graduates making such inspiring contributions to the classical music scene.

Lunchtime Concerts

Unfortunately, illness blighted Monday’s concert, which had to be cancelled, but well done to Ayman on Tuesday who, also due to other performers being ill, ended up delivering an excellent solo recital accompanied by Ms Shah, performing Stamitz and Schumann. Again, a slightly depleted group, due to exams, on Wednesday was saved by Mr Allen and Mr Billington joining forces with Otto, Marcus, Paawan and Ethan for a great jazz set in the JCS. Thursday saw all performers in good health and performing brilliantly! Well done Rebecca, Zoe and Natalie.

Forthcoming Events

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

21 January – Live Film Score Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

10 short films with original scores by Purcell’s creative composers and producers performed live to picture. Film clips include 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Stanley Kubrick, Blow Out (1981), Brian De Palma, Life of Pi (2012), Ang Lee, More, (1998) Mark Osborne, Paper Man (2009), Kieran Mulroney & Michele Mulroney The Birds (1963), Alfred Hitchcock and Wild Strawberries (1957), Ingmar Bergman, The Eye (Gin gwai) (2002), dir. Oxide Pang Chun & Danny Pang.

Stories of beauty, joy, loss, greed and ambition, the moving images are brought to life by exciting original sound design with composers drawing on conventional and extended techniques of acoustic instruments, sampled sounds, synthesis and creative effects. An additional special event as part of the concert will be a live improvised performance by the creative ensemble.

The concert is free to attend but donations are kindly received. No booking required.

28 January – Composition Department Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

4 February – Leeds Conservatoire Lunchtime Concert
Time: 1.05pm
Venue: The Venue at Leeds Conservatoire
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.

Programme to include Sergei Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances (for 2 pianos).

Additional information is available here.

7 February – Saturdays at Six Concert at St Michael’s Highgate
Time: 6.00pm
Venue: St Michael’s Church Highgate, United Kingdom
Tickets: Admission is free with a retiring collection

Saturdays at Six concert at St Michael’s, Highgate runs from 6-7pm on the second Saturday of every month.

Purcell pianists will perform a one-hour programme, details of which are to follow.

Programme will include:
Clementi Sonata in f-sharp minor Op. 25 No.5: Allegro con espressione (4′)
Chopin Fantasie in f minor Op. 49 (13’30”)
Schumann Faschingsschwank aus Wien Op.26 (22′)

For further information, visit St Michael’s website.

9 February – The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra at Cadogan Hall
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ
Tickets: Prices from £18 to £28 available here.

The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra returns to Cadogan Hall with a romantic programme of big tunes and lush orchestration, inspired by the movies of the 1940s.

This year’s Purcell School Concerto Competition winner, Julia Majewska, is an exciting young violinist who brings passion and verve to the fireworks of the exquisite Korngold Violin Concerto.

Part of Howard Hanson’s Symphony from 1930 was John Williams’ template for E.T., and Doreen Carwithen was the first British woman to write consistently for Hollywood. Walton’s orchestral showpiece from the film The First of the Few completes the programme.

Britain’s oldest specialist music school, The Purcell School, is a vibrant, co-educational community of around 200 musically gifted teenagers from across the globe. Whether boarders or day pupils, all are united by a shared dedication to music and excellence.

Doreen Carwithen Men of Sherwood Forest Overture
Korngold Violin Concerto
Walton Spitfire Prelude and Fugue
Howard Hanson Symphony No. 2, ‘The Romantic’

Julia Majewska violin
The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra
Paul Hoskins conductor

For further information and to purchase tickets, visit Cadogan Hall’s website.