Drew Balch's Page

Balch won the gold medal at Marlow International Concerto Competition with his performance of Hindemith’s Viola Concerto, Der Schwanendreher (2007). He also won Camac Chamber Music First Prize and Gold Medal (2007) and was finalist at Royal Overseas League with Trio Anima (Flute, Viola and Harp) being described as “daring, audacious and simply magnificent!”.
He has played in many festivals including residencies at Aldeburgh Festival, Lake District Summer Music, BBC Composers Festival (2007 & 2008), Dartington Festival, Royal Northern College of Music chamber music festival and the London String Quartet Week being reviewed in the Sunday Times, by the critic Paul Driver, who described his quartet as “simply splendid!”
Balch has also enjoyed extensive tours of Italy, Poland, France, Germany, Serbia and USA but most notably enjoys a close bond to Al Kamandjâti, a Palestinian based music school set up by his friend Ramzi Aburedwan that gives opportunities to the most destitute children, those living in refugee camps. As often as possible, he travels to Palestine to perform and tours many places including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Gaza, Ramallah, Nazareth and Jericho. In light of his work there, he has become Artistic Director of Al Kamandjati Camerata that aims to play chamber music away from Palestine to help raise awareness of the work going on.
As a teacher he enjoys working closely with LSO Discovery teaching violin on the ILP scheme and giving workshops including many varied and versatile settings such as hospices and prisons. He also enjoys working with cross art forms including projects with actors (circus and story telling), dancers (from London Contemporary Dance School and Henri Oguike Dance Company) and artists. He also enjoys an established relationship with David Dolan being involved in the Centre for Creative and Professional Practice focusing particularly on structured improvisation, particularly within the contexts of chamber music. Balch is kindly supported by numerous scholarship sponsors most notably Mrs Williams Worshipful Company of Grocers and the City of London Corporation.
Balch's tuition includes five years studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with principal teacher Mark Knight. He has also studied with Partricia Noall and Phillip Dukes.
Future plans include recording solo viola works of Carson P.Cooman on Naxos, premiering John Tavener’s string quartet in Denmark with Paul Robertson (Medici Quartet), residency with Trio Anima at Aldeburgh Festival, playing chamber music in the Zenith Festival in Amsterdam, and tutoring chamber music in festivals in Berlin, world premiere of Thomas Hewitt Jones’ Viola Concerto in Cardiff in 2009.