Described by the Sunday Times as a "virtuosic and flamboyant”, Drew Balch is a chamber music devotee, an obsessive collaborator and a born risk taker. Balch was awarded a fellowship having spent seven years at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (receiving a first in both his undergraduate and masters studies).This was made possible thanks to scholarships from the Worshipful Company of Grocers and the City of London Corporation and Andromeda Williams. Internationally renowned, Balch has played in many festivals around the UK and enjoyed extensive tours of Italy, Poland, France, Holland, Germany, Serbia, the Middle East, and the USA.

Balch has won many prizes including the gold medal at the London Concerto Competition and Gold Medal and first prize of the Camac Ensemble prize. Solo and chamber music recordings include appearances on Hyperion, EMI, Naxos and the BBC.

Amongst his many chamber ensembles, Trio Anima (flute, viola, harp) continues to flourish as a prize-winning ensemble, described as, “daring, audacious and simply magnificent”. They enjoy performing on the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme, and for Live Music Now.

Orchestral work has led Balch to appear with the London Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, London Contemporary Orchestra (as principal) and Palestinian Symphony Orchestra (as principal).

As a teacher, Balch was formerly the LSO Discovery Program String Professor, and gives masterclasses for the Aldeburgh Young Musicians program, Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

Future plans involve finishing a solo CD of Bach Suites, performing York Bowen Concerto in Montreal in November and collaborations with composers such as Antony Pitts, Charlotte Bray and Matt Kaner.

Balch plays on a brothers Amati 1616 copy by Paul Noulet and a modern bow by Englishman, Tim Baker.