News

The Purcell School has won seven Good Schools Guide Awards. The School has been presented with these awards by The Good Schools Guide for out-performing all other English schools in its category.  The prestigious annual awards, which are in their 9th year, are based on a detailed analysis of the most recent examination results, and…

The Upper Sixth lead the way with their brilliant costumes for our end of term Prom. Thanks in particular to Head Girl Lucie for all her efforts on the social side this year.

Lara in a rehearsal with The School Symphony Orchestra Congratulations to UVI pupil Lara Caister, who was a finalist in the 2015 Marlowe Young Musician of the Year Competition.  She performed the first movement of Dvorak’s violin concerto in the Final at Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on Tuesday and was awarded runner up by the adjudicator.  She was…

Today we welcomed some pupils from a local primary school for some joint music-making. Our Year 11 Impulse groups had them improvising on their favourite tunes in no time, whether on piano, violin, percussion or voice. Another lovely example of our students sharing their talents and skills with others. 

Term began at The Purcell School today with yet another cause for celebration, as the report from last term’s school inspection was published.The report, which was the result of a four-day visit from the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate, says that the school ‘very successfully fulfils its aims’. Every aspect of the school was rated either Excellent or…

No fewer than eleven Purcell pupils are members of the 2015 National Youth Orchestra.  Nine of them played in the orchestra’s Barbican Hall concert on Sunday evening, 4th January, in an exceptionally exciting and demanding programme.  John Wilson conducted the orchestra.   Many Purcell friends and families joined the capacity audience. The performance of Elgar’s magisterial…

Young composers learn to write for tabla with Kuljit Bhamra On Wednesday afternoon we were delighted to welcome British composer, record producer and musician, Kuljit Bhamra to Purcell to lead a tabla workshop. One of the most inspiring musicians in the British Indian music scene, Kuljit has composed and produced over 2000 songs and is responsible for…

On Saturday 13th September, three pupils from The Purcell School provided live music for the official opening of an exhibition of Purcell School artwork at The Bushey Museum and Art Gallery.  Frederico Paixao (Head Boy) and Matthew Higham played a lively and engaging programme of flute duets, whilst Ju-Hee Yang played the fiendishly difficult Ballade…

Our School Coffee Shop was officially opened yesterday evening with a short performance by year 9 harpist, Cherry Ge, and an opening speech given by Chris de Souza.  De Souza is a composer, teacher, music director, broadcaster, opera producer and author, who has presented programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and the World Service. So far, it has proved to…

We were delighted to welcome renowned pianist, Dmitri Alexeev to give a concert of Russian piano music on Thursday evening.  He performed works by Medtner, Scriabin, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov. Described by Hilary Finch of The Times as “a great poet of the piano”, Mr. Alexeev is one of the world’s most highly regarded artists. His…