News

  On Thursday 2nd March, a very special and unique event took place at the Saatchi Gallery in Sloane Square. It was an evening of contemporary art-inspired music, composed by five of our youngest first study composers and performed by the collective Music Off Canvas. The pieces were written in response to the Saatchi Gallery…

Pupils of The Purcell School were recently honoured by a visit from alumna Anne Denholm, Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales, who delighted them with an inspiring recital and engaging question and answer session. Anne, who first studied at The Purcell School in 2007 and was also a member of the Junior Department…

  A warm congratulations to Year 11 pupil Francesca Biescas Rue on winning the School Performer Class B (under 18s) award in the British Flute Society Annual Flute Competition. Francesca, who has been studying at The Purcell School for five years under Anna Pope and was also the 2013 winner in the Juniors Division of…

Diane Widdison (Musicians Union, National Organiser- Education and Training) introducing Sarah Upjohn. Sarah Upjohn, the School Physiotherapist has been an active researcher in the field of Injury Prevention in Young Musicians since 2011. The Purcell school is the only UK specialist music school to employ a physiotherapist to work within the school, and this provides…

  This year’s annual school play was a double bill of classic 1960s’ comedy with scintillating productions of The Erpingham Camp by Joe Orton and The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard, directed by Paul Elliott, Head of Drama. The Erpingham Camp, which was first seen on television in 1966, is a witty, satirical take on the…

  The Annual Music and Drama Education Expo took place last week in the heart of West London at Kensington Olympia. The event opened with a fanfare from the Band of the Grenadier Guards, and over the next two days the renowned exhibition centre was awash with activity – from seminars to workshops, browsing exhibitor services…

  Heartfelt congratulations to alumnus Jacob Collier, who became a two time Grammy award winner yesterday. Jacob was nominated for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella (for You and I) and Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals (for Flintstones) at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. He was successful in both categories, and takes home not one…

  Year 8 Purcell student, Philip Theodorou, was shortlisted for the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers scheme last summer. He recalled the moment he heard of his success saying ‘I scared my dog because I screamed so loudly’. As part of this experience, the shortlisted few – including Philip and last year’s Head Boy, Tom Sparkes…

  Lauren Marshall, sixth former at The Purcell School and principal composer at the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), has been commissioned to write an original piece for The Morgan Stanley Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Morgan Stanley are working with plantsman and designer Chris Beardshaw to create an organic space in which to…

65 young woodwind players from around the UK came to Purcell to take part in an afternoon of workshops, ensemble playing, and performance classes on Sunday 29 January.  The day was kindly supported by Prozone Music, and coached by members of The Purcell School’s Woodwind Department, run by Joy Farrall. The day was aimed at young…