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Congratulations to year 11 pupil, Polina Makhina who has won the 2015 Windsor and Maidenhead Young Musicians’ Competition. She performed Kabalevsky Improvisation Op.21 No. 1 and the fourth movement of Ysaÿe’s Sonata No. 2 for solo violin. As a result of winning, Polina will be given the opportunity to perform as a concerto soloist with the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony…

The Purcell School has been awarded the Incorporated Society of Musicians’ Gold certificate and is ranked No.1 in the UK, having achieved over 95% A* and A grades in GCSE music.  Over the last 5 years the School has achieved 99%  A* – C  and over 90% A or A*in this subject. Stephen Yeo, Headmaster of The Purcell…

This year’s Art Exhibition again demonstrated how talented our pupils are, and not only in music. A really wonderful exhibition was much enjoyed by the large number of parents and pupils who came along. Thank you to the Art Department.

Sixth Former, Anna Disley Simpson’s piece Lamentations, has been shortlisted for the 2014 NCEM Young Composers Award (18 and under category), presented in association with BBC Radio 3 and the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble The Tallis Scholars.The award will be judged at the National Centre for Early Music on Thursday 8 May. During the day the…

Hyungi onstage at QEH with Purcell Symphony Orchestra (credit: Bill Hiskett) Hyungi Lee won First Prize in her age category at the International Marimba Festival held in Bamburg, Germany last weekend.  The prestigious competition was adjudicated by Shoko Sakai, Paul Mootz – Professor at Luxemburg Conservatoire, Radoslaw Szarek – Professor at the Hochschule für Musik…

Jonathan Vaughan, Director of Music at Guildhall School of Music and Drama had a tough time yesterday evening choosing a first and second place from our six concerto finalists.  First place went to Martin Bartlett, who will perform Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Monday 9th March 2015,…

Final of the Senior Concerto Competition last night, judged by Jonathan Vaughan from the Guildhall. What an amazing way to finish the term! Well done to all the performers, and especially to winners Gina and Martin.

Photo © Watford Observer Two Purcell pupils have reached the finals of BBC Young Musician’s brand new Jazz Award: Jake Labazzi (Jazz trumpet) and Sean Payne (Jazz saxophone).  This is the first year that  BBC Young Musician have added a Jazz Award alongside the established classical music format.  After two rounds of auditions, the panel…

Purcell alumna, Emma Halnan has won the Arts Club-Karl Jenkins Music Award, a classical music competition in collaboration with Classic FM that is now in its second year. ​ Emma impressed the panel of judges with her performances of repertoire by all female composers: Kokopeli by Katherine Hoover and Concertino by Cécile Chaminade.  Her prize is £4,000 – and the…

Nicholas Daniel at the International Double Reed Society Conference   Oboe students at Purcell have an EMG analysis   Looking at the results & seeing what their muscles were doing when they play!     Purcell School oboists participated last week in Electromyography sessions with physiotherapist, Sarah Upjohn and oboist, Melanie Ragge.  Electromyography is a technique…