Concert Guide Autumn 2018
An Education with Music at its Heart 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 10-18, 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 Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, accepted the award at a special ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.... it gives me great hope for the future of the music profession when I hear what these young people are capable of. Sir Simon Rattle CBE, President of The Purcell School 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 world-class 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, Alina Ibragimova and Anne Murray among others. All pupils are encouraged to share their love and passion for music with the wider community, be it participating in 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. www.purcell-school.org
September WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER, 7:00pm VOILES DÉCOUVERTS A concert of music inspired by Debussy s piano prélude Voiles. New music by Middle School composers, directed by Purcell s Composer-in- Association, Robert Saxton. SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER, 12:00pm LUNCHTIME CONCERT St. James Church, High Street, Bushey Hertfordshire, WD23 1BD Programme to include movements from Brahms Violin Sonata Op. 78, Jolivet s Fantaisie Impromptu for saxophone, and Rachmaninov s Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42 for piano. October WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER, 7:30pm PURCELL SOLOISTS St Mary s, Perivale, Perivale Ln, Perivale, Greenford, UB6 8SS with retiring collection The programme will include works for piano to include Liszt s Mephisto Waltz, Arias by Mozart and Conti, movements from Vivaldi s Oboe Concerto, Schubert s Arpeggione Sonata for cello, and more. THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER, 7:00pm CONCERT FOR FRIENDS OF THE PURCELL SCHOOL For more information about becoming a Friend, please contact Emma McGrath: 01923 331131/ E.McGrath@purcell-school.org Concert to include a performance by the current Friends Scholar, followed by a reception. WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER, 1:00pm LUNCHTIME RECITAL Three Rivers Music Society Baptist Church, High Street Rickmansworth, Herts. WD3 1EH Tickets: 6 at the door. Free for under 25s. For more information please visit www.trms.elgar.org An hour of music to include the first movement of Gregson s Trumpet Concerto, Ravel La Valse for piano, Lamentatio for solo cello by Sollima and Burton s Sonatina for flute and piano. WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER, 7:00pm PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: SENIOR SCHOOL
October THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER, 7:00pm KOREAN AND ENGLISH FOLKSONG EXPLORED Pieces composed by Purcell pupils based on Korean and British folk songs, bringing both cultures together through music. Featuring Korean instrumentalists, including special guest Joohee Shin (daegeum). SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER, 7:30pm EVENING RECITAL St Mary the Virgin Church, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 5SH Tickets at the door: 10 for adults, free for under 18 s, refreshments and a glass of wine (adults) included SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER 3:00pm Matinee PURCELL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN Ravel Mother Goose Suite Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 Mahler Symphony No. 4 Conductor: Douglas Boyd Violin: Ilai Avni Soprano: Madeleine Bradbury Rance Tickets: 13.50*, 9.50*School children: 5.00* *Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fee. Fee-free booking for Priority members; Groups of 8+ please call 01923 474124 to buy fee-free Box Office: 01923 571 102 watfordcolosseum.co.uk
November WEDNESDAY 7 NOVEMBER, 7:00pm LOWER SCHOOL THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER, 2:00pm PURCELL BAROQUE ENSEMBLE The London International Exhibition of Early Music Quaker Meeting House, 2 Lawn Terrace, Blackheath, London SE3 9LL Tickets: www.earlymusicshop.com Featuring BBC Young Musician Category Finalist, Eliza Haskins in movements from David Gordon s concerto for recorder, strings, harpsichord and percussion, entitled Romanesque. The concert will also include works by Schmelzer and CPE Bach. SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER, 7:30pm PIANO RECITAL Stanborough Park Church, Watford WD25 9JL WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER, 7:00pm MIDDLE SCHOOL WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER, 7:00pm LOWER SCHOOL THURSDAY 22 NOVEMBER, 7:00pm BUDAPEST CONNECTION A Hungarian Cultural Exchange A project inspired by Hungarian music and cultural traditions, influenced by Hungarian composer and conductor Peter Eötvös. TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER, 1:00pm PURCELL SOLOISTS St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ, suggested donation of 3.50 WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER, 7:00pm SENIOR SCHOOL SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER, 7:30pm SENIOR SHOWCASE RECITALS Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP Tickets: 15*Telephone: 020 7935 2141 Online: www.wigmore-hall.org.uk *Ticket bookings are subject to a 2.00 booking fee. This fee covers the whole booking and is not per ticket. Music for marimba, violin, and piano, by Ravel, Kreisler, Sibelius, and more.
The Purcell School Fundraising Gala Dinner Tuesday 27th November 2018 Drapers Hall, The Drapers Company Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2DQ Please join us for an evening of fine dining and wonderful music to raise vital funds for The Purcell School for Young Musicians 6.45pm Drinks Reception 7.30pm Three Course Dinner and Music 11.00pm Carriages Dress: Black Tie Tickets 150 each. Please contact Ruth Blake on 01923 331131 or r.blake@purcell-school.org to reserve your place THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER, 7:00pm NEW MUSIC Composers Concert Exciting new music by talented young composers of all ages throughout the school. December TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER, 4:00pm YEAR 11 FESTIVE TEA PARTY A celebratory seasonal concert with Christmas music, and audience carols, for the local community, organised by Year 11 students WEDNESDAY 5 DECEMBER, 7:00pm MIDDLE SCHOOL SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER, 6:30pm CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT PURCELL CHAMBER CHOIR St. James Church, High Street, Bushey Hertfordshire, WD23 1BD with a retiring collection Join our Chamber Choir for an evening of Christmas carols by candlelight in the beautiful setting of 700 year-old St James Church in Bushey. MONDAY 10 DECEMBER, 7:00pm WINTER JAZZ CONCERT Featuring the music of Tom Richards, arranger, musical director and saxophonist/keyboard player for Jamie Cullum. Tom has toured and recorded with Blur, Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Tim Minchin and Michael Bublé. FRIDAY 14 DECEMBER, 3:00pm CHRISTMAS CONCERT with a retiring collection Join Purcell pupils and staff for a concert of joyful Christmas music followed by refreshments.
Save the Dates TICKETS ON SALE SOON! SUNDAY 20 JANUARY 2019, 7:30pm SENIOR SHOWCASE RECITALS Milton Court Concert Hall MONDAY 29 APRIL 2019, 7:45pm FREDDY MORGAN PIANO RECITALS Purcell Room, Southbank WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE 2019, 1:00pm PURCELL CHAMBER ENSEMBLES Wigmore Hall MONDAY 25 MARCH 2019, 7:30pm PURCELL SCHOOL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conductor: Natalia Luis Bassa Harpist: Cherry Ge Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances, op. 45 Ginastera Harp Concerto, op. 25 Marquez Danzon No. 2 Cadogan Hall 5 Sloane Terrace London SW1X 9DQ Photograph Simon Pauly
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 July 2018. 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 School 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