ConCert Guide SUMMER 2016 APRIL JULY Photograph by Bill Hiskett I am very proud to be a Patron of The Purcell School, which provides such excellent opportunities for young musicians to achieve their goals. Vladimir Ashkenazy, Patron of The Purcell School
Photograph by Chloe Alice Hayes THE PURCELL the Purcell School based in Bushey, Hertfordshire, is Britain s oldest specialist school for talented young musicians. it is a co-educational boarding and day school for ages 9-18, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. the School holds the unesco Mozart Gold Medal in recognition of its unique contribution to music, education and international culture. the School s royal Patron, HrH the Prince of Wales, accepted the award at a special ceremony at the unesco headquarters in Paris. An education at The Purcell School is available to everyone. Entry is by musical audition only. The School exists to provide young musicians of exceptional promise and talent with the best possible teaching and environment in which to fulfil their potential, irrespective of their financial background. The School is funded by the Government s Music and Dance Scheme and the School s own scholarships and bursaries fund. The curriculum allows pupils to study a full range of subjects with a special emphasis on Music. Being on the edge of London, the School takes advantage of all that the city has to offer, but enjoys a semi-rural environment. The proximity to London gives access to the eminent international musicians who comprise the instrumental teaching faculty. The School has exceptional facilities; state-of-the-art classrooms, a professional recording studio, superb practice rooms and a recital hall with exceptional acoustics. Pupils are given outstanding opportunities for performances. We hold lunchtime concerts every weekday, and all pupils perform at these. Chamber music and orchestral concerts take place regularly, and every year performances are given at the Southbank Centre and Wigmore Hall. Visiting conductors have included Sir Simon Rattle, Paul Daniel and Karina Canellakis. In recent years masterclasses have been given by Vladimir Ashkenazy, Zakhar Bron, Andras Schiff, Natalia Gutman, Angela Hewitt and Craig Ogden among others. All pupils are encouraged to share their love and passion for music with the wider community, be it participating one of our many evening performances, free lunchtime concerts at the School, or in our UK and overseas outreach programmes. Most Purcell pupils go on to music college and some take up places at Oxbridge or other universities. We are very proud of our former students who have enjoyed national or international success. Just a few of our distinguished alumni include Oliver Knussen CBE; Catrin Finch; BBC Young Musician of the Year winners, Nicholas Daniel, Lara Melda, and Martin James Bartlett. If you would like further information regarding Purcell School concerts please see our website www.purcell-school.org The Purcell School, Aldenham Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2TS Tel. 01923 331100 info@purcell-school.org Follow us on Twitter @PurcellSchool Royal Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales President: Sir Simon Rattle CBE Registered Charity No 312855 Photograph by Chloe Alice Hayes SATURDAY 23 APRIL LUNCHTIME RECITAL 12:00 noon St. James s Church, 30 High Street, Bushey, Hertfordshire Wd23 3HL Music for percussion duo, flute, violin, French horn, and piano. SUNDAY 24 APRIL CHAMBER MUSIC AT LEES COURT the Ballroom, Lees Court Sheldwich Lees, Faversham, Me13 0nQ tickets: 15 including champagne An hour-long recital of music by Chopin, Ibert, Piatti, Sancan and more, in the beautiful country estate of Lees Court, Kent. WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL NATHANIEL VALLOIS AND DAVID QUIGLEY Schumann Violin Sonata No.2, Op.121 Janáček Violin Sonata WEDNESDAY 4 MAY MIDDLE CONCERTO WINNERS SINFONIA ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY EDWARD LONGSTAFF Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 (1st mov) Soloist: Bradley Ng Barber Violin Concerto (1st mov) Soloist: Eugenie Dalgleish Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations Soloist: Willard Carter Dvořák Symphonic Variations Borodin Polovtsian Dances SUNDAY 15 MAY FREDDY MORGAN PIANO RECITALS Hall one, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London n1 9AG tickets: 10 12 5 for under-25s (Available via the Box office only. Please call 020 7520 1490)* www.kingsplace.co.uk Senior Purcell School pianists selected by audition perform works by Haydn, Chopin, Liszt and more.
WEDNESDAY 18 MAY SERIES: MIDDLE WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE SERIES: MIDDLE SATURDAY 25 JUNE CHAMBER MUSIC COFFEE CONCERT 11:30am Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1u 2BP tickets: 13; 11 020 7935 2141 wigmore-hall.org.uk. ticket bookings are subject to a 2 booking fee. this fee covers the whole booking and is not per ticket. TUESDAY 24 MAY BAROQUE CONCERT 1.00pm St. Mary s Church, Watford Church St, Watford Wd18 0eG. Purcell School Baroque ensembles led by Barbara Law and David Gordon. WEDNESDAY 25 MAY SERIES: LOWER FRIDAY 27 MAY LOWER ENSEMBLES Lower School Strings, Brass Ensemble and chamber groups. FRIDAY 10 JUNE CHAMBER MUSIC AT LUNCHTIME 1:10pm St. James s Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL An hour-long recital featuring soloists and chamber music ensembles from The Purcell School, including movements from the Beethoven Archduke Piano Trio, Op.97 and Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 67 WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE SERIES: LOWER MONDAY 20 JUNE CHAMBER MUSIC AT LUNCHTIME 1:00pm St-Martin-in-the-Fields trafalgar Square, London WC2n 4JJ An hour-long recital featuring chamber music ensembles from The Purcell School. Programme to include Poulenc Sextet, FP.100; movements from Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 66; Debussy String Quartet, Op.10, and Shaposhnikov Sonata for Flute and Harp. SUNDAY 26 JUNE EUROPEAN PIANORAMA Princess Alexandra Hall royal overseas League, London SW1A 1Lr tickets: www.rosl.org.uk 28 miniature piano pieces each specially composed to reflect the character and culture of a different country in the European Union, composed by 28 young composers, each from a different country in the EU. Performed by young musicians at The Purcell School. SUNDAY 26 JUNE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC John McCabe Rainforest I and pieces by first study composers inspired by Rainforest I Purcell Contemporary Ensemble Aaron Copland In The Beginning Chamber Choir (soloist: Georgia Odette) Songs by Morley and Rutter, movements from Debussy Cello Sonata, Smetana Piano Trio Op. 15, Mozart Piano Sonata for Four Hands, Schumann s first Violin Concerto, and String Quartets by Ravel and Shostakovich. MONDAY 27 JUNE THE ARTHUR FELSENSTEIN LEAVERS AWARD RECITAL 2:00pm A competition, adjudicated by an external musician, open to members of the Upper Sixth who are proceeding to music college or university to read music. Designed to support the winner s musical career, the award is a generous monetary prize, presented to the winner once they commence their undergraduate music studies. MONDAY 27 JUNE SINGERS SOIREE 6:30pm An early evening recital given by our first study singers.
WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE LOWER CONCERT CELEBRATION 4:00pm - Year 7 5:00pm - Juniors - Year 8 Various school locations tickets available on the door. All proceeds to go to a charity chosen by the Lower School pupils. Concerts created and run entirely by pupils from the Lower School. One year group will receive the 2016 Concert Celebration Trophy at the end of the School year. THURSDAY 30 JUNE SUMMER JAZZ & BIG BAND CONCERT SATURDAY 2 JULY PURCELL AT THE BUSHEY FESTIVAL 12:00 noon St James s Church, 30 High St, Bushey, Hertfordshire Wd23 3HL SUNDAY 3 JULY & MONDAY 4 JULY HOPSCOTCH tickets: 5 on the door A new musical created by pupils William Fowler & Thomas Sparkes. Inspired by Cortázar s Rayuela. Running time: 1 hour In memory of Toby Davies. MONDAY 4 JULY THE SHOWSTOPPER! TWO CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN AGED 7-11 11:00am & 2:00pm For further information, please contact Harriet Rayfield h.rayfield@purcell-school.org. Special hour-long concerts, created by our Year 11 students, for children aged 7-11. THURSDAY 7 JULY SOUND IMAGE MOVEMENT CONCERT Take your imagination for a walk experience the eclectic, the electric, film scores, multi-media and improvisation. WEDNESDAY 6 JULY THE CANTERBURY PILGRIMS GEORGE DYSON 7:30PM St Albans Cathedral St Albans, Herts AL1 1BY tickets: 15; 12; 10; 5 (students and children). Box office: online at www.stalbanscathedral.org, by phone on 01727 890290, or in person at St Albans Cathedral. The choirs and orchestras of The Purcell School Conductor - Edward Longstaff Andrew Greenan - bass Philip Salmon - tenor SENIOR SHOWCASE RECITALS WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street London W1u 2BP THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER Milton Court Concert Hall, Barbican Centre, London ec2y 8dS HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR AUTUMN TERM 2016 on sale soon! Contact 01923 331100/concerts@purcell-school.org for further information. details of all our forthcoming concerts on www.purcell-school.org Our senior pupils chosen by audition, perform short solo recitals. FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER CHAMBER CHOIR 1:00pm St-Martin-in-the-Fields trafalgar Square, London WC2n 4JJ Admission free A 50-minute lunchtime concert given by The Purcell School Chamber Choir, conducted by Edward Longstaff. SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Watford Colosseum Debussy La Mer Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3, Op.26 Soloist: Bocheng Wang Dvořák Symphony No. 7 in D minor
HOW TO FIND US By Car: Leave the M1 at junction 5, then at the roundabout take the exit onto the A41 (signposted C. London). At the next roundabout, take the third exit onto Hartspring Lane B462 (signposted Watford (South), Oxhey). The Purcell School is half a mile on this road, on the right. Once inside the School Gates, follow signs for parking. By Rail: There are regular services to Bushey and Watford Junction mainline stations and Stanmore and Watford Met tube stations. We recommend getting a taxi from these stations to the School fares range from 6-10. Recital Room: located on the first floor of the New Music Centre which is situated at the rear of the original Victorian building. Ample parking is available in the School car park adjacent to Bushey Mill Lane with limited disabled parking immediately outside the New Music Centre. When entering from Aldenham Road, turn right and follow the drive around to the rear. Fork right to reach the car park. Constance Pilkington Hall: located at the front of the main School building. Please park in the Bushey Mill Lane Car Park or, when indicated, the Metropolitan Police Club car park opposite the School. FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS These take place during term time in the Constance Pilkington Hall on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. at 12:20pm. Please contact the Concerts Office to check that the concert is taking place: 01923 331109 / 38 Information is correct at the time of publication March 2016. Full concert listings and up to date information can be found on our website: www.purcell-school.org @PurcellSchool NURTURING THE MUSICIANS OF THE FUTURE - FRIENDS OF THE PURCELL Have you thought about becoming a Friend of The Purcell School? Whether you play a musical instrument yourself or simply enjoy music for relaxation, this is a real opportunity to touch the lives of some very remarkable young people. Friends receive a pair of complimentary tickets to our annual symphony orchestra concert, discounted tickets to all other concerts, as well as a complimentary ticket for masterclasses held at the School. Masterclasses have recently been given by András Schiff, Robert Cohen and Charles Rosen. The annual membership fee is 60 ( 40 concession for those over 60 or under 25 years of age), or 80 for joint membership. For more information on joining the Friends scheme contact : Emma McGrath The Purcell School, Aldenham Road Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2TS e.mcgrath@purcell-school.org Tel 01923 331131 KEEP IN TOUCH To receive the Concert Guide and updates and offers by email, please send your full contact details to info@purcell-school.org