COFFEE CONCERTS
Classical Stars in a coffee shop
About the Concerts
Leeds based operatic baritone Neil Balfour realised there wasn’t a platform that captured the insanely talented musicians living in the North.
Coffee Concerts was created to give a voice to these brilliant artists. We proudly present the latest generation of classical musicians who will share their music with personality, humour and finesse to the classically curious and seasoned concert goers alike.
NEXT CONCERT:
TBA 2024
Split into two halves, our concerts offer a range of music performed by award-winning musicians with highlights from opera, classical song and Broadway tunes. There's something for everyone. During the evening you'll get to know our musicians through the music they play and anecdotes they’ll share as well as informal chats over a glass of wine, gin and tonic, arancini and popcorn.
Only 40 tickets are for sale so please buy early to avoid disappointment.
For more info email: TICKETS@ARTSONGSTORY.COM
PHOTOS
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Neil Balfour
Indian-Scottish Neil Balfour is an operatic bass-baritone. He is the founder and your host for the evening.
Neil is the first opera singer to be booked by the Glastonbury Festival as an artist, the first performer to beatbox in an opera at Longborough Festival Opera and his voice-over work for YouTube channel’s have reached well over 100 million views.
Alex Banfield
Originally from Northumberland, British tenor Alex Banfield is familiar with the opera, concert and oratorio platforms, having performed with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Sinfonia and the Orchestra of Opera North. This year for Opera North, he will sing Sam Kaplan in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene followed by Henrik in A Little Night Music by Sondheim.
Jane Burnell
Originally from Sussex, Jane currently studies at Leeds College of Music. Jane is a regular concert soloist.
Alongside a growing solo career, Jane still has a profound love of choral music and is the Co-Founder of The Meanwood Ensemble; a classical vocal quartet based in Leeds, whose ethos is to bring classical music to new audiences by performing in unusual locations.
Ewan Gilford
Ewan trained at Leeds College of Music and The Royal Northern College of Music, specialising as an Opera Répétiteur.
Ewan is in demand across the UK and Ireland as a vocal accompanist, often involved in classical festivals and concert series. He joined Northern Ballet in 2015 as a pianist with the professional Company, where he still plays along side his Academy duties.
Natalie Sinnott
Irish-Polish Mezzo-Soprano, Natalie trained in London at the Royal Academy of Music and English National Opera.
Recent highlights include the cover of Lel in Snow Maiden for Opera North, Flora in La Traviata for Clonter Opera and the role of Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor for the Buxton Festival.
Ann Wilkes
Yorkshire born soprano, Ann Wilkes is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music.
Well versed in classical repertoire, Ann also enjoys performing contemporary pieces by living composers and is thrilled to have been one of the featured soloists in the world premiere of Citizens of Nowhere, a chamber opera, composed by Anna Appleby at the Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival.
