In 2010, former Beverley High student Poppy Shotts performed at the Wyke Christmas Concert, which is still available to view on our YouTube channel. Listening to Poppy sing was one of the highlights of the evening, showcasing her amazing talent and foreshadowing a great career to follow.Poppy has fond memories of studying at Wyke."My time at Wyke built my confidence, and nurtured my passion for the Performing Arts. I went out into the world with the drive to create meaningful work, and with the necessary tenacity to keep pursuing my dreams." After studying Music, Performing Arts, and English at Wyke, Poppy was inspired to train in Classical Voice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), gaining a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in 2017. She then went on to gain a Master of Performance with Distinction from the Royal College of Music (RCM), in London, where she trained as a Derek Butler Scholar. In London, Poppy worked with a wide range of directors, conductors, and vocal coaches, including Alison Wells, Caroline Dowdle, and Gary Matthewman. During her training in London, Poppy was supported by a number of awards including the Countess of Munster Award, the Il Circolo Italian Cultural Association Award, and the Mario Lanza Trust.Performance highlights from recent years include performing with Roger Vignoles in the Britten Theatre, RCM, and making her solo debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cadogan Hall in a performance of Grieg's Peer Gynt. Opera credits include Barbarina, (RCM Opera School), Léïla (RCM Opera Scenes), Nedda (RCM Opera Scenes), Cleopatra (RCM Opera Scenes). Further credits include Pamina with Ensemble OrQuesta, Susanna with Matchbox Opera, Abigail Williams in Robert Ward’s The Crucible and Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte with the Berlin Opera Academy. In between time performing at venues across the world, Poppy regularly returns to Hull to perform with Hull Urban Opera.
Since graduating in 2019, Poppy continues to work as a performer in a wide range of projects, and as a private voice teacher. To listen to her performances, visit Poppy's website www.poppyshotts.com
