We are incredibly proud of our talented Year 8 jazz pianist and composer, Marcus, who recently featured in The Piano, Channel 4’s acclaimed series celebrating extraordinary musicians from across the UK.
Marcus‘s episode aired on Easter Sunday, 20th April, and you can catch it on Channel 4’s on-demand service here — tune in from 16:20 to 21:57 to watch his soulful performance and see how the judges respond.
We won’t spoil the outcome, but we highly recommend watching to the end of the episode!
Purcell Pianist Shines on the International Stage
Over the Easter break, Year 12 pianist Anna gave an outstanding solo recital in Cyprus as part of the prestigious Pharos Arts Foundation Festival, held at The Shoe Factory in Nicosia on 10th April.
Performing to a packed and enthusiastic audience, Anna delivered a demanding programme featuring works by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy and Chopin — all with exceptional artistry.
A review from the evening praised Anna as ‘a pianist of prodigious talent . . . with remarkable precision, expressive depth and stylistic sensitivity,’ noting especially her ‘technical and expressive maturity’ and ‘a striking degree of preparation, ethos and a sense of responsibility towards the audience and her music – attributes which are rare nowadays.’
We are incredibly proud of Anna’s international success and look forward to seeing where her musical journey takes her next!
Purcell Violinist Wins 1st Prize at Grand Virtuoso International Competition
We are thrilled to announce that Year 11 violinist Von has won 1st Prize in the Grand Virtuoso International Competition, securing an incredible opportunity to make her debut at the Philharmonie Berlin.
In addition to this achievement, Von participated in the prestigious Victoria BCN Violin Competition, where she competed alongside some of the world’s most talented young violinists. Notably, Purcell School alumnus Yinong Xiao won 1st place in his category — a wonderful connection and reminder of our alumnus’s continued success.
The opportunity to be pre-selected for such a renowned competition and to perform for the esteemed panel was a significant milestone in Von’s musical journey. Von studies at Purcell under Aiste Dvarionaite, who generously loaned Von her family’s heirloom violin for these performances.
A huge thank you to Aiste and heartfelt congratulations to Von.
Purcell Pianist Performs Shostakovich at Garsington Opera Studios
Congratulations to Year 13 pianist Yazdi, who performed Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Buckinghamshire County Youth Orchestra on Saturday 5th April.
The concert, held at the stunning Garsington Opera Studios on the Wormsley Estate, was conducted by Tom Horn and formed part of Yazdi’s prize for winning the Buckinghamshire Young Musician of the Year 2024.
This was a remarkable opportunity and a memorable performance — congratulations to Yazdi.
Purcell Pianist’s International Success Across Europe
Year 10 pianist Luca had an extraordinary few weeks in the run-up to the Easter holidays, travelling across Europe for a series of prestigious masterclasses, competitions, and performances.
His journey began with a day trip to Paris, where he attended a masterclass led by renowned pianist Ebi Akiko, a juror of the Chopin Competition. The following week, he travelled to Lugano, Switzerland, to compete in the Jeune Chopin International Competition, where his expressive playing and refined technique earned him Second Prize.
One of the highlights came when the legendary Martha Argerich, head of the jury, personally congratulated him: ‘Bravo! You are very good.’ She even recalled his teacher at Purcell, Florian Mitrea, and praised Florian’s Mozart interpretation, having previously judged him in the Hamamatsu Competition.
After performing in the competition’s winners’ concert, Luca travelled straight to Belgium, where he took part in further masterclasses, including one with Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, a jury member of the Queen Elizabeth Competition.
As First Prize winner of the César Franck International Piano Competition, Luca also had the exciting opportunity to perform a piano concerto with the BNP Paribas Chamber Orchestra — including a self-composed cadenza, which he presented as a student of composition under Simon Speare. His cadenza was met with enthusiastic applause and admiration from both audience and jury.
Along the way, Luca enjoyed inspirational encounters with world-class musicians, tried out a historic Pleyel piano once favoured by Chopin, and even found time to chat with celebrated pianist Martín García García.
An unforgettable musical adventure! Congratulations, Luca.
Purcell Pianist Wins First Prize at the Emanuel Trophy Piano Competition
We’re thrilled to share that Year 7 pianist Elizabeth has been awarded First Prize in the Emanuel Trophy Piano Competition at the North London Festival, held last Saturday.
Representing the Kingston Festival, Elizabeth performed with exceptional poise and musical maturity, standing out among a field of highly talented young pianists from across the region. A particular highlight of the event was the opportunity to perform for Professor Frank Wibaut, adding further prestige to this already distinguished occasion.
The standard of competition was remarkably high, and Elizabeth’s success is a testament to her hard work, talent and dedication.
Elizabeth studies at Purcell under Danielle Salamon and she would like to thank her for her invaluable support and guidance.
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
UKMT Intermediate Math Challenge 2025
A few weeks ago over 250,000 students from more than 3,000 schools across the UK participated in the Intermediate Maths Challenge aimed at Year 9, 10 and 11 pupils. Students had 60 minutes to answer 25 challenging multiple choice mathematical problems. Students who performed in the top 5% of the country achieved a gold medal certificate, those in the top 10% achieved silver and those in the top 25% achieved bronze.
We are delighted to announce that we have matched our previous record medal haul from last year and achieved 25 medals. Just under half of all students that participated earned a medal certificate!!
So another great year for maths and congratulations to all medal winners and to all those that took part.
Gold Medal – Victor, Elsa, David, Kira, Chaeyu, William, Jerry, Nemunis and Trevor
Silver Medal – Marija, Ireh, Hannah, Pijus and Josh
Bronze Medal – Rowena, Siyue, Kelchi, Gui, Nin, Saule, Luca, Stephanie, Lily, Grace and Reeka
The Maths faculty – Ms Stone, Mrs Holmes and Mrs Shah – are thrilled and tremendously proud of all the students who took part.
In addition, Kira, William, David, Elsa, Nemunis, Victor and Trevor qualified to compete in the Intermediate Olympiad follow on rounds which took place in March. Congratulations and good luck for the next round!
Purcell Expands Brass Department
We are excited to share that Purcell’s Brass Department is expanding!
For the first time, we are welcoming applications from young brass band players, including those who play the cornet, tenor horn, baritone and euphonium.
Led by our Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, Mike Cavanagh, this development marks an important step in making specialist music education more accessible to a wider range of talented young musicians.
Our Brass Department — already known for its excellent training in trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba — now offers even more opportunities for aspiring brass players to grow and thrive in a world-class musical environment.
If you are interested in applying, or know someone who might be, we warmly invite prospective students and their families to one of our upcoming Open Mornings to explore what life at Purcell is all about.
To find out more, register for an Open Morning or contact Mike Cavanagh directly.
Dr Martin Entrialgo Presents at International Music Theory Conference
Over the Easter break, Dr Martin Entrialgo, teacher of Academic Music at Purcell, was invited to co-lead a training session at HarMA – the biennial Harmony and Music Analysis conference, which this year took place in Valencia, Spain (14–16th April).
The event brought together theory and analysis teachers from leading European conservatoires and universities to share pedagogical practices and engage in comparative analysis. Dr Martin Entrialgo’s session focused on ‘Evocación,’ the first piece from Iberia by Albéniz, drawing on his published research and dissertation to explore how this repertoire can be taught and analysed in a classroom setting.
It’s wonderful to see our staff contributing so actively to international dialogue in music education.
Purcell Physiotherapist: Supporting Young Musicians Over Easter
Over the Easter break, Purcell physiotherapist, Dr Sarah Upjohn, was busy supporting the next generation of young musicians. She spent time with the National Children’s Orchestras U12s during their residential course in Shrewsbury, before heading straight to the Surrey Hills to join the National Youth Folk Ensemble on their Easter course.
The week concluded with a wonderful performance at Cecil Sharp House in Camden — home to the English Folk Dance and Song Society and the Vaughan Williams Library.
We’re proud of Dr Upjohn’s continued work promoting musicians’ health and wellbeing on a national level!
Concerts Review
On Tuesday 29th April, Purcell’s Chamber Choir visited St Albans Cathedral to sing in their evensong. The choir sang beautifully to support the service, conducted by Tom Winpenny, Purcell’s organ teacher and choir director, and accompanied by Phoebe Tak Man Chow, assistant organist at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, and Year 10 organist Arthur.
Forthcoming Events
In addition to those highlighted events below, please visit our online Concerts and Events Guide here.
Monday 12 May – Benslow Music Trust
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: Benslow Lane Hitchin SG4 9RB
Tickets: £10 and can be purchased here
Tuesday 13 May – Chiltern Arts Festival Concert: Piano Recital
Time: 6.00pm
Venue: St Michael & All Angel’s Church Hughenden, HP14 4LA
Tickets: £15-£20 and can be purchased here
Programme: J.S Bach Prelude and Fugue in F# minor, BWV 859 Book I Beethoven Sonata Op.53 in C major Chopin Sonata in Bb minor, Op.35 Debussy Images Book 2 Janáček Sonata 1.X.1905 I. Presentiment II. Death
Friday 16 May – Chiltern Arts Festival Strings Concert: The Instrumentalist
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: St. Peter’s & St. Paul’s Church, Church Street, Great Missenden
Tickets: £15-£35 and can be purchased here
Harriet Constable author & reader Lucy Russell violin Musicians from The Purcell School
Read by the author herself, excerpts from Harriet Constable’s debut novel, The Instrumentalist, are woven together here with music by Vivaldi, Correlli and Tartini to tell the story of young Anna Maria, a musical prodigy studying under Vivaldi at the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage for girls in Venice in the 1700s. When Anna Maria hears music, she sees colour: this representation of what we now call synaesthesia is told beautifully and sensitively through Harriet’s writing — and has inspired us to bring colour into this musical event, too. Featuring extracts from The Four Seasons and Tartini’s The Devil’s Trill, we also hear new music from Deborah Pritchard — a synaesthetic composer herself — commissioned especially for the event and created through work with colour and sound with local primary school children and composers from The Purcell School.
Congratulations to Year 13 pianist Yazdi, who performed Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Buckinghamshire County Youth Orchestra on Saturday 5th April.
Over the Easter break, Dr Martin Entrialgo, teacher of Academic Music at Purcell, was invited to co-lead a training session at HarMA – the biennial Harmony and Music Analysis conference, which this year took place in Valencia, Spain (14–16th April).
On Tuesday 29th April, Purcell’s Chamber Choir visited St Albans Cathedral to sing in their evensong. The choir sang beautifully to support the service, conducted by Tom Winpenny, Purcell’s organ teacher and choir director, and accompanied by Phoebe Tak Man Chow, assistant organist at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, and Year 10 organist Arthur.