Purcell Pianist Wins First Prize at EPTA Competition
Congratulations to Zoe (Year 7), who has won First Prize in her local round of the EPTA (European Piano Teachers’ Association) UK Piano Competition and has progressed to the next regional stage.
Zoe studies piano at Purcell under Florian Mitrea and we are delighted to celebrate this excellent achievement. We wish her every success in the forthcoming regional round.
Official competition photographs will be shared in a future edition of the newsletter.
New Partnership with Langley Hall Arts Academy
We are delighted to announce a new partnership between The Purcell School and Langley Hall Arts Academy.
Rooted in a shared belief in the transformative power of music and the arts, the collaboration will see both schools working together through workshops, concerts and orchestral experiences. The partnership creates meaningful opportunities for students to broaden their horizons, develop their talents and engage in shared artistic projects.
Together, we look forward to nurturing young musicians and strengthening the future of music education.
The full press release is available here.
Concerts Review
Cadogan Hall Concert — 9 February 2026
The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra took to the stage at the prestigious Cadogan Hall, presenting a truly monumental programme inspired by the golden age of film music (1930-1950). With over 80 musicians on stage, the orchestra delivered an evening of colour, drama and sweeping romanticism.
The concert opened with Doreen Carwithen’s spirited Men of Sherwood Forest Overture — short in duration yet brimming with delightful musical details.
Our Year 13 violinist, Julia Majewska, then absolutely captivated the audience with an expressive performance of the Violin Concerto by Korngold, with lush tone, brilliant musicality and poise. What a star performance this was.
The exhilarating second half featured the stirring Spitfire Prelude and Fugue by Walton, followed by the deeply romantic Symphony No. 2 by Howard Hanson.
Under the baton of our Director of Music, Paul Hoskins, the students united as one team, delivering a committed and inspiring performance that demonstrated both technical excellence and expressive maturity.
Another highlight of the evening was the fabulous jazz set performed by Marcus, Seth, Pawaan, Flo and Miles. The pre-concert atmosphere in the main lobby was electric — Purcell staff had never seen so many audience members arrive early to enjoy the pre-concert drinks and time spent before the main performance.
Many congratulations to all performers, and sincere thanks to the staff who helped make the evening such a resounding success.
Thwaites Bass Room Session Concert — 10 February 2026
The following evening, two outstanding jazz ensembles travelled to Thwaites Violin Shop in Bushey to perform two sets as part of their Bass Room Concert Series.
The first group — Miles, Mahla, Julianna, Marija and Flo — was joined by Head of Jazz Simon Allen, who performed alongside the students. Their programme included works by legendary British saxophonist Tubby Hayes, with one piece featuring original lyrics written by student Marija — a wonderful creative addition.
The second set featured Ethan and Pawaan alternating on drums, alongside Otto, Seth, Flo and Marcus. Simon Allen again joined the ensemble, performing side-by-side with Otto on saxophone in an energetic and collaborative set.
The audience reception was warm and enthusiastic throughout. As our first appearance at Thwaites, the evening marked an exciting new partnership. With such vibrant and engaging music-making on display, we are confident that the audience base will grow rapidly.
Please look out for future Bass Room dates at Thwaites!
Seb de Krom Birthday Concert – 11 February 2026
On Wednesday evening in the CP Hall, we were treated to a fantastic evening of jazz celebrating the very wonderful Seb de Krom‘s birthday. The concert featured two sets with Seb‘s sensational drumming alongside the amazing musicians, his close musical friends, Jacqui Hicks (Vocals), Anthony Kerr (Vibes), Sam Dunn (Guitar), Pete Billington (Organ), Martin Shaw (Trumpet & Flugelhorn), Simon Allen (Alto & Tenor Sax), John Turville (Piano) and Oli Hayhurst (Bass).
How lucky we are to have such fabulous musicians performing and also teaching in our school.
Lunchtime Concerts
On Monday members of the lower school presented a piano recital confidently performed by Anna, Milou, Sofia, Yisen and Zoe. Tuesday’s concert was a great concert with violin and french horn solos performed by Sonya, Jarvis and Chaeyu. The ‘JOG’ trio on Wednesday got us all tapping our toes to their funky jazz set, thank you Julianna, Oliver and Gianntino, and a well balanced piano recital by Ryosuke in the Liszt Room on Thursday finished our week.
Well done to everyone who performed.
Forthcoming Events
In addition to those highlighted events below, please visit our online Concerts and Events Guide here.
25 February – Tomoki Park Piano Recital
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Tickets are £12/£6/£0 and can be purchased here
Purcell alumnus Tomoki Park returns to CP Hall for an evening of piano solo music, performing a carefully curated programme that showcases his technical mastery and expressive range. The evening features a fascinating dialogue between Baroque, contemporary, and Classical works, including UK and world premieres alongside historical masterpieces.
Programme to include:
J. S. Bach (1685–1750) Duet I in E minor, BWV 802
Dai Fujikura (b. 1977) Shadow Memory (2025) — UK premiere
J. S. Bach Duet II in F Major, BWV 803
Katherine Balch (b. 1990) Obstenmelodie (2023)
J. S. Bach Duet III in G Major, BWV 804
Michael Cohen-Weissert (b. 1993) Fear Mr. Devotion’s pre-reversed recycling machine (2024) — World premiere
J. S. Bach Duet IV in A Minor, BWV 805
Don’t miss this chance to hear Tomoki in this intimate recital.
04 March – Lunchtime Concert at St Mary le strand
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: Women’s Royal Navy Service Church, Strand, London WC2R 1ES
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.
Talented Purcell pianists perform a lunchtime concert at St Mary le Strand.
Take a break in your day and join us for an hour of exquisite music-making.
All are welcome.
04 March – Middle School Concertos Chamber Orchestra Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.
12 March – A History of The Purcell School Composition Department, Wigmore Hall
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP
Tickets: Book online via Wigmore Hall here or contact the Box Office on 020 7935 2141
The Purcell School Chamber Soloists celebrate the extraordinary legacy of The Purcell School’s Composition Department in an engaging programme of short works spanning multiple generations of composers associated with the school.
This special concert brings together music by some of the department’s most distinguished alumni and affiliated composers, including Oliver Knussen, Joseph Phibbs, Gareth Moorcraft, Kristina Arakelyan, Yiruma, Alexis Ffrench, Edward Longstaff and Alison Cox. Alongside these works will be new compositions by current Purcell School students Yoko Afi, Gerard Coutain and Kaelan Bryden-Johnson, selected through a competitive process adjudicated by the composer Mark Bowden.
The concert also marks the forthcoming retirement of Alison Cox, Head of Composition at The Purcell School, who steps down at the end of this academic year after 38 years of exceptional service. Alison has shaped and inspired generations of composers, leaving a profound and lasting legacy.
Alison Cox says: “I’m absolutely delighted that The Purcell School’s Composition Department is to be celebrated at Wigmore Hall. This concert presents composers from many generations in the school’s history, including those who were there even before I created the department in September 1994 . . . and I would love to see you all again at this concert.”
18 March – Session Bands Concert
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: CP Hall, The Purcell School
Tickets: Free admission. No booking required.
Purcell Pop and Commercial Department presents Session Bands and Songwriters Concert.
24 March – The Music of Ronnie Scott & Tubby Hayes, Watford Palace Theatre
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ
Tickets: Tickets are available from the Watford Palace Theatre box office here.
The Music of Ronnie Scott & Tubby Hayes
Celebrated by The Purcell School with Special Guest Simon Spillett
Also featuring Mark Nightingale
Two giants of British jazz take centre stage in this vibrant celebration of the music of Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes — pioneers whose partnership and friendship helped define the sound of British jazz in the 1950s and 60s.
This special concert sees acclaimed saxophonist Simon Spillett join forces with The Purcell School Jazz Ensembles and Big Band, alongside guest trombonist Mark Nightingale, for an exhilarating programme drawn from the Tubby Hayes Big Band library and the iconic Jazz Couriers repertoire. Together, they bring this thrilling music to life with energy, authenticity and fresh perspective.
For over 15 years, The Purcell School Jazz Department has been at the forefront of training young jazz musicians for professional careers. Its distinguished alumni include Grammy Award winner Jacob Collier, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Alexandra Ridout, Jas Kayser, Kit Downes and Seth Tackaberry. Under the leadership of saxophonist and Head of Jazz Simon Allen, and a faculty of leading performers and educators, students develop exceptional instrumental and compositional skills, gaining places at major conservatoires before going on to successful performing careers.
Special guest Simon Spillett is one of the UK’s most respected jazz saxophonists, celebrated for his commanding tenor sound and deep-rooted connection to the British jazz tradition. An award-winning musician and a fiercely swinging improviser, he has worked with an array of leading figures from the British jazz scene, including Sir John Dankworth, Stan Tracey, Alan Barnes, Bobby Wellins and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, and has performed at major venues and festivals across the UK and internationally. Alongside his performing career, Simon is an acclaimed jazz writer, historian and broadcaster, the author of the definitive biography of Tubby Hayes and a presenter on BBC Radio 3.
Mark Nightingale is an internationally acclaimed jazz trombonist, highly respected writer and one of the UK’s most in-demand studio musicians. He has performed with an extraordinary range of jazz and popular music artists, including John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Georgie Fame, Ray Brown, Clark Terry, Charlie Watts, Steely Dan, Sting, Tom Jones and Frank Sinatra. A multiple winner of the British Jazz Awards, Mark is also widely recognised for his educational work, producing a substantial catalogue of study material and concert repertoire for musicians of all standards.
An evening of superb music-making, rich jazz heritage and outstanding young talent — not to be missed.
24 March – Bartók and Stravinsky at Folkestone New Music
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: The Green Room, The Grand, The Leas, Folkestone, CT20 2LR
Tickets: Tickets are available here
Students of The Purcell School join Director of Music Paul Hoskins for a programme of 20th-century orchestral masterpieces at this year’s Folkestone New Music Festival.
Bartók’s Divertimento
Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks
The programme will also include a new work by a current Purcell student, showcasing the next generation of musical talent.
Join us at this very special concert.