Maya Magub Class of 1989

It is no exaggeration to say that the Purcell School ‘made’ me...

My seven years there shaped me as a musician, and as a person. There was an abundance of extraordinary musical opportunities at school, so that by the time I left I had already performed four concertos with orchestra, a solo in the Royal Albert Hall, chamber music in the Purcell Room, and had led an orchestra in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. I had played under Sir Simon Rattle, had masterclasses with Lord Yehudi Menuhin, performed for King Charles lll, appeared live on television, and in Russia behind the iron curtain… the list goes on. These things felt almost ‘normal’, and made me feel that the great concert halls of the world were a familiar second home. Underneath those experiences was a solid foundation.

Surrounded by other serious music students, practice and hard work were a part of everyday life, and ear training and music history/harmony an essential ‘GPS system’ that we could draw on to guide us. On leaving school, we knew not just how to play in an orchestra or chamber group, but also the nuances of how to be a part of a musical team. We weren’t just doing this after school or in our summer holidays, it was literally part of everyday life.

I was 10 years old when I joined the school. My father had died a year before, and money was extremely tight. Winning a full government-aided scholarship enabled me to be there and, I believe, got me to where I am today. The Purcell School also became for me a true family. I met my life-long closest friends there and felt the support of many of the teachers. Nowadays, my husband, Alex Heffes (who I met, aged 10, at the school...!!) and I live in Los Angeles, where I have played on most of the major Hollywood movies of the past 10 years and have performed with many of the biggest stars of the Classical and Pop world, from Anne-Sophie Mutter to Sir Paul McCartney. I am also an active chamber musician and a solo recording artist for the CRD label.