Poppy Neame – Soprano

Poppy Neame is a versatile and passionate performer who will be delighted to entertain whatever the occasion. Whether it be an awards night, charity fund raiser, black tie dinner, anniversary, birthday celebration, wedding or funeral – Poppy will always deliver with an exceptionally high quality and vibrant performance. Poppy performs music from Opera, Classical, Musical Theatre, Cabaret, Jazz, Ballads and even Disney. She also sings in Italian, French and German. A singing appearance enhances any function. Contact Poppy to discuss your ideas and make sure your event is both special and memorable.

Music and Performing Arts have played a pivotal role in my life since the age of 5 and I have always had a passion for singing. ‘Born to perform’ was the description used by my very first music teacher at the age of 11 so I knew then that I had to be a performer! Being on stage is where I feel most alive and I sing from the heart and connect well with the audience whatever the occasion.

After attending Stagecoach Performing Arts School in Salisbury for 10 years, and passing my ABRSM Grade 8 Singing exam with a High Distinction, I won scholarships and attended Chethams School of Music in Manchester, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance both in London. One of the highlights during my time at Trinity Laban was being selected for a masterclass with David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. In 2015, I undertook a 6 month international Erasmus Study Placement course at the top Music Conservatoire in Italy, the Conservatorio di musica ‘Guiseppe Verdi’, Milan.

I also attended Barefoot Opera for 12 years learning and performing opera arias from La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, L’elisir D’amore, Carmen, Don Giovani, The Marriage of Figaro, Così fan Tutte, Dido & Aeneas, Rusalka, Ride of the Valkyries as well as other sacred works as well.

I have performed in well-known venues such as Coutts Bank for HRH Princess Anne at the Royal Yacht Association for Olympic Sailors, the Guards Museum near Buckingham Palace for the Household Cavalry, the Rochester Castle Concerts Festival for the Royal Engineers 300th Anniversary Proms Night, the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge for a wedding anniversary, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Painters Hall in Central London, Salisbury Cathedral, The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, The Sala Verdi Hall in Milan and St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

Since graduating, I taught singing and piano lessons privately in Kensington & Chelsea before moving home to Fordingbridge and now teach pupils from all over Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset. I have got many students through their ABRSM Exam Grades with High Distinctions.

My Great Aunt, Lady Gwendolyn Neame (Astra Desmond CBE) was a British contralto of the early and middle twentieth century. In 1932, Vaughan Williams had dedicated his Magnificat to her and later in 1938, she was one of the original 16 singers in Vaughan Williams’s Serenade to Music.

My grandfather, Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame, VC, KBE, CB, DSO, KStJ was a senior British Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross in the 1st World War and winner of an Olympic Gold medal for Deer Running in 1924; he is the only person to achieve both distinctions.