"A natural actor... he is as comfortable singing Mozart
as he is performing Sondheim."
-Garth Bardsley
"Neil Balfour used his attractive voice, smooth with a slight dark edge, to his best advantage."
-SeenandHeard International
Indian-Scottish Neil Balfour is an award-winning British Baritone and Voiceover Artist. He started musical life as a pianist, punk-rocker and conductor, graduating from Leeds College of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and the National Opera Studio, before falling in love with all-things-voice to tell stories. A former Britten-Pears, Samling, Momentum and Concordia artist, he has performed at the Glastonbury Festival and is the first to beatbox in an opera at Longborough Festival Opera.
In the upcoming season engagements include Jacob Displaced (world premiere) for CoAlign; Bartley Riders to the Sea for OperaUpClose; Handel’s Israel in Egypt for the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir; Mr. Noye Noye’s Fludde; Love is a Spectrum (a recital celebrating neuro-divergence) for Thaxted Festival; and the premiere of Untold Lives (a new song cycle about Indian Soldiers in WWI created by Neil Balfour and Cheryl Frances-Hoad) for Oxford International Song Festival.
Highlights in recent seasons include his American debut as Father Thumbprint for Portland Opera; Prince Yamadori Madama Butterfly and The Shoemaker (world premiere) for Welsh National Opera; Alice Through the Looking Glass (world premiere) for the London Symphony Orchestra; Jean Arp Sophie (world premiere) for Tête à Tête; a recital with Roderick Williams for Thaxted Festival and recitals on Schumann and Sondheim for Oxford International Song Festival.
Outside of opera, Neil is a keen barista, climber and adventure cyclist.
Steven Swales Artist Management represents Neil Balfour worldwide.
NEIL BALFOUR
IS THE FIRST
CLASSICAL ARTIST
FOR sE ELECTRONICS
Manufacturer of
world-class microphones
MUSIC
The discovery, practice and performance of song enriches understanding of emotion, relationships and all human interaction for performer and audience. Neil collaborates regularly to create artistic videos of songs and stories that are relevant, beautiful and fascinating in today's modern world. To see the full collection visit: www.artsongstory.com
DISCOGRAPHY
COMPOSER
SID
SHORT FILM
2023
WINNER
SOUND DESIGN
Vesuvius International
Film Festival
SHOWS
27 Jan 2025, 19:00 – 23:00Location is TBDThis masterful miniature is partnered with a specially commissioned choral prelude, The Last Bit of the Moon, bringing hope, light and the modern world to a classic. Combining projection, recorded sound and live performance, this is powerfully direct musical storytelling at its most visceral.
Multiple DatesMon, 24 MarGrimsby Minster24 Mar 2025, 18:00 – 19:00Grimsby Minster, St James Ct, Freshney Place, Grimsby DN31 1EP, UK
Sat, 29 MarWakefield29 Mar 2025, 19:00 – 22:00Wakefield, Northgate, Wakefield WF1 1HG, UK
Sun, 29 JunThaxted Parish Church29 Jun 2025, 15:00 – 16:00Thaxted Parish Church, Watling St, Thaxted, Dunmow CM6 2PE, UK29 Jun 2025, 15:00 – 16:00Thaxted Parish Church, Watling St, Thaxted, Dunmow CM6 2PE, UKNeil returns to Thaxted with pianist Sholto Kynoch to sing a song programme including Cinq mélodies "de Venise” b Gabriel Fauré, Siete Canciones Populares by Manuel de Falla, Frauen-Liebe und Leben by Robert Schumann and Rosa de Sal by Reena Esmail.
Date and time is TBDWolwich WorksDate and time is TBDWolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 St, Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6HD, UKDate and time is TBDWolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 St, Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6HD, UKNeil plays the role of Jacob in the world premiere of Displaced. An immersive new opera inspired by the history of Arsenal FC in the munition factories of Woolwich, the club’s move to Highbury and the intertwining Suffragette arson campaign.
Date and time is TBDHolywell Music RoomDate and time is TBDHolywell Music Room, Holywell St, Oxford OX1 3SB, UK
PAST SHOWS
PRESS
VOICEOVER
NATURAL | DYNAMIC | CLEAR
Neil Balfour is an award-winning Baritone, Actor and Voiceover Artist with 15 years' experience. His natural voice is versatile, dynamic and clear. He specialises in commercial and narration as well as believable characters for animation and gaming. Fun Fact: Neil was the original artist (recording all voices) for the viral sensation that was Baby-Shark on the Little Angel Kids Channel.
Equipped with a TV broadcast quality home studio, Neil uses (and is endorsed by) sE Electronics Rupert Neve Tube microphones in an acoustically treated room by GIK Acoustics.
Neil has recorded over 100 VO's for clients including Visa, NHS England, Barnardo's, NowPressPlay, Gear4Music, Little Angel (now Moonbug) and numerous radio stations. He is represented by agents in the UK and USA and his animation work has had well over 100 million plays.
COMMERCIAL
NARRATIVE
GAMES
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“Neil is a gifted actor, skilled audio technician, and by far the most professional voice talent I've had the pleasure of working with.”
- Jake Sanders - Director
“Neil was an audio director's dream. His range of voices and ability to adapt accents/timbre and energy is incredibly nuanced.”
- Anna Wheatley, Voice Director
"Neil's accents are strong and he brought the characters to life with a wide range of registers. The sound proofing/isolation on the [home studio] recordings was excellent.”
- Tim Bamber, Head of Sound for Now>Press>Play
VOICE YOUR CHANGE
Neil Balfour is using his voice for change.
He believes in an inclusive, equitable and regenerative world for all people on our shared planet. At least 1% of all his profits go to human and environmental causes that help make these values a reality.
Recognising that climate change poses a threat to the economy, nature and society-at-large, Neil Balfour commits to take action immediately in order to:
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Instantly and dramatically reduce his carbon emissions
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Use green energy and products in all areas of life
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Use cycling, walking and public transport as primary modes of travel
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Eat a flexitarian diet
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Maintain net zero emissions
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Detail his progress on a yearly basis
In doing so, he is proud to be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, and join governments, businesses, cities, regions, and universities around the world that share the same mission.
To date, Neil Balfour has offset 42 tonnes of carbon dioxide by supporting a Global portfolio of Verified Carbon Reduction Projects as well as planting trees across the UK and the Great Rift Valley, Kenya.
In recognition of Neil's efforts to continuously prove that cycling and walking are viable options for primary travel he is proud to be supported by VivoBarefoot shoes, Tailfin Bikepacking equipment, Hunt wheels and Mason Cycles.
To view the climate report or for any questions please email:
