Opera North Mentor Scheme - Opera North & RNCM (2016)

Scholarship for Masters Study - Jane Anthony Memorial Award (2016)

Scholarship for Masters Study - South Square Trust Scholar (2016)

Full RNCM Scholarship - Royal Northern College of Music (2015)

One Year Scholarship - SingforPleasure (2013)

Lesley Garrett Opera Class Winner - David Clover Festival of Singing (2017)

1st place French Song & Lied Class - David Clover Festival of Singing (2016)

Frederic Cox Singing Competition - Finalist (2015)

1st place British Composer & Vocal Duet - The Warde-Aldam Cup - Pontefract Singing Festival (2010)

"A late but enforced cast change meant that Neil took on the role of Don Alfonso only three weeks before the first night. This was a very courageous and impressive decision in itself. More impressive still, he went about approaching what would be a hugely daunting - albeit exciting - task for anyone in such a sensible, open, organised way, that he didn’t appear to waver for a moment either in his assessment of the size of the task or his faith and determination and confidence that he would get there. Given that so many other people are involved in a process like this, that to me showed a crucial balance of sensitivity, care and self possession, and these qualities held him in good stead as he continued. Neil presents a unique, clear, entertaining and honest character, free in the moment but disciplined in the structure. I feel enormously appreciative and respectful of that." - Thomas Guthrie - Director, 2016

"Neil Balfour brought this part to riveting life ... Outstanding. The best Don Alfonso I have ever heard!" - Gwenda Meredith, www.list.co.uk

"Neil Balfour excelled as Lord Ellington, giving a convincing performance with considerable stage presence ... He used his attractive voice, smooth with a slight dark edge, to his best advantage." - Michael Cookson, SeenandHeard - International

"Neil took on the role at very short notice... His Alfonso was dramatically alive and compelling... he sang extremely well." - Roger Hamilton, Conductor

“Neil is an intelligent and sensitive performer with an innate ability to adapt to varied styles of repertoire... a natural comic actor - he is as comfortable singing Mozart as he is performing Sondheim." - Garth Bardsley Director of Opera

Half-indian, half-scottish bass-baritone, Neil Balfour, is an opera singer whose repertoire spans a diverse range of music. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with Masters distinction.

Upcoming performances include Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata for Devon Opera and Colline in La Boheme for Mananan Opera on the Isle of Man and soloist in Haydn’s Mass in Time of War.

Recent engagements have included Colline in La Boheme for the OFMAN Opera Studio in Madrid, covering Don Alfonso for Opera Holland Park, being a young artist for Buxton Festival Opera, shadowing the role of Lt. Ratcliffe in Opera North’s production of Billy Budd and covering Figaro for Longborough Festival Opera. Previously, Neil has also performed the title role in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale and Mustafà in Rossini’s L'italiana in Algeri and for Mananan Opera on the Isle of Man.

Contemporary works have included premiering the roles of La-La (role sponsored by The Opera Awards) in A Shoe Full of Stars (YAM Awards Best Opera 2018) by Omar Sharyar, Nikolaus’ Father in Mysterious 44 by Kevin Malone, Best Man in Cheese by Lucy Armstrong (premiere at the Bridgewater Hall) and recording artist for Magnificat by Oliver Tarney and Convivium Records.

Other jobs of interest include being the creator of www.artsongstory.com, doing voice-over work for Youtube Channel’s with views on his videos reaching well over 100 million, premiering the first electronic opera, conducting 300+ mass choirs and performing a private show for Her Majesty The Queen.

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