Paul Presents | The Berkshire Chamber Music Festival

Poppy Beddoe (Co-Artistic Director – clarinet) joins Paul to tell us about the concert and about her career as a free-lance, worldwide acclaimed Classical clarinettist.

The Berkshire Chamber Music Festival is  a vibrant celebration of world-class chamber music, inspiring educational workshops, and meaningful outreach performances for those unable to travel to traditional concert venues, including care homes, hospices and schools.

At the heart of BCMF is a commitment to community and connection.

Everything they do is designed to bring people together and to foster a shared, intergenerational enjoyment of music.

Their foremost priority is the audiences and communities they serve.

They are proud to programme music by a diverse range of composers alongside beloved masterpieces, and to champion a broad spectrum of performers — with a particular focus on supporting outstanding young musicians at the start of their professional journeys.

Their concerts offer high-quality, inclusive programmes performed by exceptional artists in beautiful local venues.

They deliberately choose more intimate settings, bringing chamber music into rural communities and closer to those for whom travel can be challenging, ensuring that great music remains accessible to all. 

Their schools project gives children the invaluable opportunity to work directly with professional musicians — observing, collaborating, and creating music of their own.

The educational benefits of music are well established, and they are proud to play an ongoing role in supporting music provision across Berkshire schools through sustained, year-on-year partnerships. 

Since their founding in 2019, they have also built strong relationships with local residential and healthcare facilities, including the Sue Ryder hospice, West Berkshire Community Hospital, and care homes such as Lakeside Care Home, Falkland Grange, Cressingham Road Care Home, and St Luke’s Care Home.

These performances have provided deeply valued moments of connection, comfort, and respite for residents, patients, and staff alike.

The 2026 Festival will take place from 9–15 June.

Full concert details can be found on their Events page, and tickets are now available.

​If you are interested in their work, they would be delighted to hear from you — whether you represent a school or organisation that would like to collaborate, or a venue interested in hosting a future concert.

Poppy Bedoe

Poppy is in  much demand as a soloist and a chamber musician,.

Poppy performs extensively throughout the UK and internationally.

Poppy graduated in Music from King’s College London in 2014, followed by a Masters at the Royal Academy of Music in 2016.

Poppy has recently signed a recording contract with Ulysses Arts and her debutalbum, Soliloquy, was released in December 2021.

The album has been a huge success and has been featured by Apple Music consistently since release. 

She has premièred the concerto with the Farnham Sinfonia in 2022.

She had been invited to give some solo recitals by the University of Houston, Texas in November 2022 where she  premiered several pieces written for her.

She has regular engagements in the South of France, notably at Conques and Marcilhac Abbeys. 

Poppy is a teacher at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department. 

She is grateful for the support of the Talent Unlimited Charity, the Malcolm Arnold Trust and the Nicholas Boas Foundation.

Poppy is delighted to be the Artistic Director of the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival and to bring outstanding chamber music to children and audiences around the county.