Poppy is from Somerset and was raised as part of a single parent family. She started playing the violin at the age of five and achieved grade 8 with distinction by the age of eight. Poppy has always been passionate about music and determined to succeed. She said “I read somewhere that Nicola Benedetti passed her Grade 8 when she was eight years old. So, I decided that I wanted to do the same thing.”
For many years Poppy was busking so that she could afford to pay for her music lessons. Then the chance to attend Marlborough came along. Poppy said “It was really amazing to have the opportunity to come to Marlborough to pursue my music dreams and to be taught by some world-class teachers”.
Poppy is a music scholar and she studies with Philip Dukes, the Director of Music, who is himself a world renowned viola player. Poppy has gone onto win many awards including the Future Talent Award in 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2022 and she has recently gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, one of the major conservatoires with a scholarship. She said “I don’t think this would have been possible without the support I have received at Marlborough”.
Poppy loves to perform, but what is really important to her is being able to bring pleasure to others through her music. She has worked for many years with the Amber Trust, a charity which provides musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children and children with more complex needs. In recognition of this work Poppy was awarded a Rotary Young Citizen’s Award (2021) and a Diana Award (2021).
