A SCHOOLGIRL soprano hoping to become Newport's answer to Charlotte Church is looking for a new manager as her career takes off.

Holly Holyoake, 16, of Duffryn, has already released an album and performed in Italy and America.

Proud mum Trixie has been her agent until now but feels the workload is piling up.

Holly was flattered to be compared to Charlotte Church but said: "I am a different person from Charlotte although I would hope to be as successful as her.

"We sing similar kinds of music but we have different voices."

The Duffryn High pupil is busy juggling singing commitments with her GCSEs.

This year she will join the Welsh National Opera and make a guest appearance at the Choir of the Year event at the Newport Live Arena.

In November she will fly to Philadelphia to perform at a concert commemorating Mario Lanza, the famous 1950s tenor.

Trixie has been running Holly's website that has had thousands of hits from fans.

She said: "I think she needs a new manager as I'm finding it quite hard to keep up with it all.

"We are looking for a professional manager to help her at the start of her career."

Holly's first album, When Dreams Have Wings, is a mix of show tunes and classical music and sold 600 copies.