Baritone, Voiceover Artist and Sound Artist
Founder of The Studio
"King Hrothgar...
a sonorous Neil Balfour"
I’m an award-winning baritone, voiceover artist and sound artist based in Leeds, working across performance, composition and recording.
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I began making music as the frontman of the pop-punk band Oversight, before studying piano and conducting at Leeds Conservatoire. I later specialised in voice at the Royal Northern College of Music and subsequently became a Samling Artist. That journey continues to shape my curiosity about the voice as both instrument and expressive medium.
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My love of contemporary and innovative vocal work has led to more than fifteen world premieres and performances across opera, festivals and interdisciplinary projects — from presenting my own show at the Glastonbury Festival to beatboxing at Longborough Festival Opera and creating many new shows for young people.
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Career highlights include my American debut as Father in Thumbprint for Portland Opera, recording characters in Alice Through the Looking Glass with the London Symphony Orchestra, and premiering Safin in The Shoemaker for Welsh National Opera.
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Alongside performance, I create sound and music for film and collaborative projects, and I run The Studio — a contemporary practice for voice, breath and creative expression supporting singers, speakers and creative artists.
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At the heart of my work is a commitment to thoughtful, human-centred creativity. I aim to align my artistic life with values of inclusivity, sustainability and care, supporting environmental and social initiatives and exploring ways of making work that is both expressive and responsible. Where possible, I reduce travel impact by cycling using equipment from Mason Cycles, Hunt Wheels, and Tailfin.
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I work with sE Electronics microphones, Rupert Neve Designs hardware and Nord Keyboards instruments.
VOICEOVER
CLEAR | NATURAL | ENGAGING
​My voiceover work is known for its clarity, warmth and musicality, spanning commercial, narration and characters across animation and gaming. I bring a strong sense of timing, tone and intelligibility to both scripted and conversational material.
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I record from a broadcast-quality studio in Leeds and work with clients nationally and internationally, delivering clean, expressive audio with a collaborative and efficient approach.
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My animation work has reached audiences of many millions worldwide and I record using sE Electronics microphones and Rupert Neve Designs hardware within an acoustically treated studio environment.
“Neil was an audio director's dream. His range of voices and ability to adapt accents/timbre and energy is incredibly nuanced.”
- Anna Wheatley for Now>Press>Play
SOUND ARTIST
I work with piano, voice and live sound.
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My work explores attention, time and listening, often using simple musical materials and live recording processes. Projects range from solo piano works and sound pieces to film scores, immersive audio experiences and collaborative performances.
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Recent work includes award-winning sound design for short film, commissioned piano pieces, site-specific sound projects, and recorded works created in my Leeds-based studio.
WORKSHOPS
Alongside my performance and sound practice, I also design and lead artist-led workshops for schools, conservatoires, and organisations. I am a Create and Sing Leader for The Royal Ballet & Opera and an animateur for Leeds Song Festival. I regularly leads masterclasses at Leeds Conservatoire and have premiered numerous children’s operas for companies including English Touring Opera.
My workshop practice spans primary, secondary, and SEND school settings, as well as community-focused work embedded within my solo performances.
“A Brilliant Teacher… Excellent Instruction… Fabulous, capable and oozing enthusiasm"
- Fenella Lindsell
