Outreach

‘Fifteen Year 12 students and 3 staff members from The Purcell School’s IMPULSE Outreach group travelled to Norfolk on June 20th 2024, and spent several days working with children in 4 primary schools – Dersingham, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Burnham Market and Docking. These primary schools are all members of Norfolk’s Primary Orchestra (NPO); a specially focused instrumental teaching programme, where the children learn woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments. NPO is sponsored by the Arts Society of North West Norfolk and the Margaret Engering Music Trust.

The IMPULSE group ran two lively interactive musical assemblies in Docking and Wells, which was greatly enjoyed by both pupils and teachers. The young musicians presented a dazzling mix of classical, jazz, commercial, pop and folk music, and taught them all to sing the chorus of Oscar Brown‘s beautiful song ‘A Thousand Voices’.

Friday 21st June was an exciting day! All members of IMPULSE, plus 75 children from 4 different schools met at Sedgeford Village Hall, where BBC Look East came to film our rehearsals and performance. IMPULSE members helped coach all the young musicians playing string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments and then they all performed together at the end. Shaun Peel, BBC Look East presenter told me afterwards what a nice day it had been. We are so grateful to him – and also to the cameraman, Shaun Whitmore – for giving us this special BBC opportunity. Also, thanks and well done to Year 12 student, Cole, who originally contacted the BBC to tell them all about IMPULSE.

After the school workshops, IMPULSE students presented three excellent community concerts, each run by a different pupil. Cole organised the concert at Christ Church, Fulmodeston, Birce organised one at the Yorke Trust, South Creake and Adi led the final concert at the Belfry centre, Overstrand.

A most rewarding, enjoyable tour! Huge thanks to so many people; including the Yorke Trust, Christ Church, Fulmodeston, The Belfry Centre, The Arts Society of North West Norfolk, NPO tutors Keith, Rachel, Dai and Simon, BBC Look East and The Purcell School staff Ziggi Szafranski and Ryan Bunce, who both did so much to help make everything a success.’

Alison Cox
Head of Composition
IMPULSE Outreach Group Leader

As part of our award-winning IMPULSE Outreach programme, led by Head of Composition Alison Cox, a group of Purcell students travelled to Dover to work with primary school children from the Whinless Down Academy School.

The trip saw the IMPULSE team run workshops with the young students from the Whinless Down Academy and culminated in a specially conceived Children’s Concert, which included film, pop songs and classical music. The audience of over 250 children and parents were delighted by it!

The trip was incredibly well received with Peter Cook, the Academy’s External Music Provider, commenting that it was a ‘really excellent and inspiring few days’. He went on to explain that ‘It was great to see primary school children being mentored so enthusiastically by the IMPULSE group . . . Some of the children who rarely engage and are challenging to reach were suddenly alive to the new sounds and rich instrumentation brought before them. They clearly relished in opportunities to compose, sing, drum, perform and listen.’

On 19th January 2024, a group of Year 12 students spent the morning at Longwood School in Bushey. They ran an interactive Assembly which involved performances from a jazz group and string quartet, as well as presentations about a variety of instruments.

The visit was incredibly well received by an engaged and attentive audience of infant and primary aged children. Claire May, Longwood’s Head Teacher, commented in the school’s weekly newsletter that Longwood’s students were ‘mesmerised from start to finish’ with many of them ‘feeling inspired to get practising’. She went on to further explain that ‘opportunities like this are so important and we are very grateful that you thought of [visiting] us’.

From 22nd to 25th June 2023, Purcell’s award-winning IMPULSE outreach group returned to Norfolk to run an exciting series of community concerts and primary school workshops in partnership with Norfolk Music Hub.

The students who made up this year’s IMPULSE group were incredibly well received. Of one particular performance at Fulmodeston Church, two audience members commented that ‘the enthusiasm, rapport and dynamic music were so joyous. A great treat for a full village church . . . what a summer delight’. Roy and Hilary Murray

Over the weekend of the 16th – 19th June 2022, Purcell’s award-winning IMPULSE outreach group returned to Norfolk for the first time in over two years to run an exciting series of community concerts and musical projects in primary schools. The students who made up this year’s IMPULSE group were so incredibly well received, that we have (in turn!) received many messages of thanks and praise following their performances. Here are but a few:

‘Just want to let you know how much we enjoyed the concert at Fulmodeston church in Norfolk last night, given by pupils of The Purcell School. There was a grand variety of musical pieces … and we were particularly impressed by the playing of the flautist Tom Kirby, accompanied by Rowena Jones on the harp.’ Richard and Isobel Skelton

‘Thank you to The Purcell School and the wonderful and talented year 12 musicians for this afternoon’s concert. Quite the most delightful event at Wells Maltings this year! We are already looking forward to your visit next year.’ Graeme and Sue Frall

‘I had the pleasure of attending this recital last Friday which was the most enjoyable occasion, played by very talented young musicians with a very varied programme. Many congratulations to them all and I wish them well for their musical careers in the future.’ Miles Connell

With special thanks to The Arts Society of North West Norfolk for their support and sponsorship.