News

We held our first Open Morning of the year yesterday, welcoming nearly 50 families. The sun shone, and the school looked great! Thanks to all the staff and students who helped or played. Pictured are four of our wonderful harpists, who sounded as good as they looked.

My first full evening in school, and I contrived an invitation to sample the Graham House chocolate fountain. It’s hard work, but someone has to do it.

Following his success in the recent BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, sixth form violinist Cristian Grajner De Sa has been featured in JESTA magazine, the online magazine for junior members of the European String Teachers Association.  You can see the article by following this link: http://www.jesta.org.uk/CristianGrainger.htm

Yesterday afternoon, the Symphony Orchestra gave a fantastic performance at the Watford Colosseum.  They played to a big audience at the matinee concert, conducted by Kevin Hathway, Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion at the School. The orchestra performed Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite, Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with cellist Kristiana Ignatjeva, who finished…

The new pupils arrived today, and it was great to meet them, their parents and, of course, the existing students. Equally notable, the fire alarm went off for the first (and second) time this term. Photo shows Paul and the Bursar sorting it out.

Hristo Dushev, Bulgarian marimba maestro and ex-Purcellian, is a 2012 Royal College of Music Concerto Competition prizewinner.  Currently in his third year at the RCM, he has won the opportunity to perform Emmauel Sejourne’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings with the RCM String Band.  The concert is on 21 November, conducted by Mark Messenger in…

Having decided it was time for some new furniture for the Day House, the sofas arrived today, and an enthusiastic team started assembling tables etc. Here they are taking a well-earned rest on the new sofas. Well done, guys!

Francesca Lauri Menta (Yr8) won First Prize in her age category and is the recipient of the Helen Oliver Cup in the 2012 Beckenham Festival.  She played J.S. Bach Invention 14, BWV 785 and Debussy Arabesque No.1.  Bocheng Wang (Yr10) won Third Prize in the 2012 Young Pianist of the North International Piano Competition. Well Done to both!

Eight year 11 pupils have been chosen to take part in a very special trip to Sri Lanka in November 2013 as part of The Commonwealth Resounds Festival run by Alison Cox OBE. Over the next eleven months these eight pupils, together with a team of helpers, will be working hard to fundraise and prepare for the trip. Expect to…

Brilliant (and fun) concert this evening, with the Elastic Band in the first half, followed by some great jazz in the second. Lots of highlights, including some very impressive solos, plus two guest Fairies on glockenspiel duet. Here is the full Purcell School Jazz Band line up.