Candida House

The Purcell Connection

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The Purcell Connection

After retiring as Headmaster of the Purcell School John Bain, supported by his wife Cynthia, has continued to maintain an active role in developing live classical music.

Past pupils from the specialist music school contribute to an outstanding programme of concerts, often in preparation for major events at high profile venues such as the Wigmore or Queen Elizabeth Hall.

With outstanding performers, a Bechstein grand in the Village Hall and a Broadwood boudoir grand in the church it is no surprise that these concerts are hugely popular.

Candida House, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6RQ

Whitchurch Purcellians

 

 

Before John Bain retired as Headmaster of the Purcell School he and his wife, Cynthia, often brought groups of their pupils to spend a weekend making music to their home in Whitchurch Canonicorum. Many of these pupils were from various parts of the world and enjoyed a relaxed weekend in the glorious Dorset countryside and beaches nearby as well as giving evenings of music in the village hall and church.

After retirement, and missing the buzz of live music being performed all around them by the young, John and Cynthia were telephoned by a former pupil who was now studying at the Royal Academy of Music and needed to run-through her programme for a big competition she was entering. The local audience enjoyed the experience of having such a high standard of performance in their village hall. Word got around many former Purcellians at the colleges that this was a good opportunity to try out performances for future London concerts, exams and competitions.

The Bains were delighted to maintain contact with their former pupils and enjoyed having their home full of music on concert weekends, and thus the Whitchurch Purcellian concerts were launched.

There have been chamber groups, duos and soloists which, although predominantly former pupils of the Purcell school, have also included their college friends and accompanists. It is still a thrill to have a Wigmore Hall run-through in the village hall or church a week before the real thing.

Although Whitchurch is fortunate to have a Bechstein grand piano in the village hall the acoustic quality of the hall is not quite as fine as in the historic church of St Candida and Holy Cross. The generous loan of a Broadwood boudoir grand for the church has made the church a most attractive concert venue.