A music school is celebrating the success of various past and present students who won awards in two major international music competitions.

The Purcell School in Bushey was proud to see pianist and alumna Yumeka Nakagawa become the XXIX Clara Haskil International piano competition winner on September 3 which took place in Vevey.

The Clara Haskil Prize awards the winner 25,000 Swiss francs and the opportunity to perform at the Vevey Spring Classic in 2022.

She also won the competition’s audience award as well as the Coup de Coeur special prize from a jury of music students.

Head of keyboard, William Fong, said: “This is a huge achievement. My experience of Yumeka is one of a highly motivated pianist with a great passion for music.

“It is wonderful to see how she has flourished even since leaving The Purcell School a little over a year ago.”

Other students also won the XI International Balys Dvarionas competition for young pianists and violnists which took place on September 4.

Current Year 13 pianist Magdalene Ho and alumna violinist Lina Juknevičiūtė won their respective categories, while Year 9 violinist Hana Shah received a Diploma and Special Prize for talented interpretation.