Prospectus 2 / The Purcell School Prospectus Nurturing Talent CONTENTS 5 Welcome Making Music 7 A Brief Background 8 At Home Enriching Lives 10 Music Overview 14 Strings 17 Keyboard 18 Brass, Percussion, Harp and Voice 21 Woodwind 22 Jazz 25 Composition 26 The Core Music Programme 28 Academic Music 31 Music Technology 32 Academic Study 37 Pastoral Care 38 Life Aer The Purcell School 41 Applications 44 Fees and Financial Assistance 46 How to Find Us ‘I am blown away by the commitment, skill and infectious energy of the remarkable young musicians Photography supplied courtesy of Chloe Alice Haynes, Aimee-Deborah Peters, Mydas Digital Photography at The Purcell School.’ and Innermedia. Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE, President Patron The Purcell School Prospectus / 3 4 / The Purcell School Prospectus Welcome Nurturing the Next Generation of Musicians ‘Pupils will fl ourish in the specialised environment of The Purcell School.’ Vladimir Ashkenazy, Patron The Purcell School is Britain’s oldest specialist The School a ords ideal opportunities for ‘The School is a vibrant place music school. Situated on the outskirts practising, performing and developing of London in Bushey, Hertfordshire, the musicianship, while also providing a balanced where creativity and discipline go co-educational boarding and day school is academic education which helps to prepare hand in hand, providing specialist home to around 180 musically gi ed young our students for life-long careers as musicians. training for musicians of the people, all of whom are passionate about The high quality of teaching and outstanding future, alongside an excellent fulfilling their talent. pastoral support is further complemented by a nurturing environment in which students general education.’ We aim to provide young musicians of can form stimulating and mutually supportive Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE, President Patron remarkable ability and promise, from relationships with similarly gi ed young people. all backgrounds, with the best possible teaching and environment in which to fulfil their potential. We deliver the very highest world-class musical instruction and hold the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal in recognition of the School’s unique contribution to music, education and international culture. The Purcell School Prospectus / 5 This image: Students of The Purcell School, Harrow Image top right: Rosemary Rapaport Image bottom right: Irene Forster 6 / The Purcell School Prospectus A Brief Background A History of The Purcell School Rosemary Rapaport and Irene Forster founded The School has been in Bushey ever since ‘The School has developed the School in 1962 at Conway Hall in central and, over 50 years later, is considered a London under the original name of the Central national treasure. It oers an exceptional from very modest beginnings Tutorial School for Young Musicians. The music education, in a creative and nurturing into a sizeable school, which School later moved to Morley College, then to environment, for students from around the is justifiably proud of its place Hampstead, and on to a large Victorian house United Kingdom and all over the world. in the provision of specialist in Harrow on the Hill. As it continued to grow and develop, the School changed its name in education for some of our most 1973 to The Purcell School, aer the English talented musical children.’ composer Henry Purcell, and in 1997 relocated HRH The Prince of Wales, Royal Patron to the site of the former Royal Caledonian School campus in Bushey, Hertfordshire. The Purcell School Prospectus / 7 At Home Being on the edge of London, the School takes The School’s seventeen acres of Hertfordshire ‘For children who possess that advantage of all that the capital has to oer, greenery have also made significant while also enjoying the semi-rural environment. developments to the campus possible. desire to learn music, to perform, In 2007, for example, a new boarding house and have the commitment to The close proximity to London, as a global and a state-of-the-art Music Centre were practice, the School provides centre for music, is of enormous benefit to opened. These additions create a fascinating an environment where budding the School and students. The immediacy of and harmonious blend of solid Edwardian the capital provides access to the eminent and sensitive postmodern architecture. musicians can thrive.’ international musicians who comprise Built for specialist use, the facilities have Purcell Parent the instrumental teaching faculty, aords enriched the musical lives of our students and outstanding performance opportunities at teaching sta alike. many of London’s principal cultural venues, and stimulates successful applications to the country’s foremost music colleges and conservatoires. 8 / The Purcell School Prospectus The Purcell School Prospectus / 9 Music Overview A Programme of Musical Excellence The Purcell School aims to provide a stimulating Students musical lives are cared for by their ‘The School’s supportive family and challenging musical environment, at Head of Department who, in collaboration with the heart of which is an individually tailored the student and instrumental teacher, will cra atmosphere allows pupils to programme for every student. a bespoke programme of study to best suit the immerse themselves in their individual’s needs and aord the flexibility to musical studies alongside We strive to ensure that the balance of musical enable daily practice. Disciplines of Academic other talented young musicians, studies and the weighting of musical and Music, including aural, theory, harmony, academic work are balanced to suit each composition, music history and analysis, and to get closer to the heart individual boy and girl. support and broaden students' instrumental of their music.’ studies, and are a key part of the School’s Vladimir Ashkenazy, Patron There are six Instrumental Music departments holistic approach to a musical education. within the School, each led by an experienced Head of Department: Our expert specialist teachers, many of whom also teach at the London conservatoires, 1. Strings have considerable experience working with 2. Keyboard motivated young musicians and will develop 3. Brass, Percussion, Harp & Voice individual practice goals and strategies for 4. Woodwind students. We also provide practice supervisors, 5. Composition themselves graduate musicians, to support 6. Jazz eicient and eective practice. 10 / The Purcell School Prospectus ‘The combination of characteristics of the School is a winning one: respect 6 57 3 for the individual, high educational Instrumental Instrumental Teachers Practice Supervisors standards, the stressing of practice Music Departments discipline, and the chance to make chamber music and orchestral performance to the highest standards.’ Nicholas Daniel, Oboist and Alumnus The Purcell School Prospectus / 11 Music Overview Regular masterclasses, recitals, courses and Our Music Centre provides excellent ‘I don’t think that I would have collaborative projects with celebrated visiting facilities. A state-of-the-art recording studio, musicians further enhance our students’ recital hall, computerised composition developed musically as much as instrumental studies and oer invaluable classrooms, and a suite of dedicated teaching I have, had I not come to this exposure to the wider music world. and practice rooms oer ideal surroundings in School. The excellent tuition and which our students learn and flourish. performance opportunities make They benefit from an enriched musical programme that includes chamber music, Each department maintains close links with for an incredibly focused and orchestral playing, choirs, jazz and piano music colleges and conservatoires around the musical environment.’ recitals. Performance opportunities are country; all have excellent records of entry and Purcell Student frequent and varied, and can range from daily of securing scholarships. Accolades from the lunchtime concerts in School to formal recitals music world are fittingly similar, and students at London’s leading performing venues. There are regularly the recipients of prestigious and are, for example, numerous opportunities fiercely competitive awards. to audition for the chance to play with the School’s orchestras and give solo recitals at prestigious venues such as the Royal Festival, Cadogan, Wigmore and Milton Court Halls. 12 / The Purcell School Prospectus ‘Purcell is a truly unique environment, full of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, a mix of vibrant 13,875 180 characters from all over the globe and a mutual Music lessons every year Performances every year appreciation of music.’ Purcell Student The Purcell School Prospectus / 13 Strings Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass and Guitar Our thriving Strings department nurtures Furthermore, students can attend the School’s Recent Masterclass Musicians string players as they work towards acquiring Chamber Music Academy which benefits Atar Arad | Remus Azoitei | Sandy Baillie a solid technical foundation and, as well as from the immense experience of members Marius Bedeschi | Zakhar Bron developing their skills as soloists, become of Chilingirian, Endellion, and Elias Quartets, Luis Cabrera | Robert Cohen accustomed to working as part of a group. to name but a few. String masterclasses take Graham Devine | The Elias Quartet place regularly with outstanding visiting artists Natalia Gutman | Alina Ibragimova Chamber music and orchestral playing are key such as Zakhar Bron, Natalia Gutman and Guy Johnston | Louise