Bio
Australian soprano Morgan Balfour made her San Francisco Symphony debut in 2023 as the soprano soloist in Bach’s Magnificat. She returned in 2025 as the soprano soloist in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. Also in 2023, Morgan made her European debut with the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart’s JSB Ensemble under the baton of Hans-Christoph Rademann, and received praise for her "crystal clear tone (that) conveyed a broad palette of emotional and vocal colors."
During the 2025/26 season, Morgan returns to American Bach as a soloist in their concert series "A Grand Tour," performs as the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah for I Cantori di Carmel, makes her debut with Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra in Haydn's Theresienmesse and rejoins Cantata Collective.
This comes close on the heels of Morgan's recent numerous roles in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen with Pinchgut Opera, as well as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Pocket Opera.
She has previously been praised for her “thrilling clarity” (Sydney Morning Herald), "pure liquid soprano" (The Daily Telegraph) and “impressive vocal control and dynamic sensitivity” (San Francisco Classical Voice).
With a strong affinity for early music and the concert stage, Morgan has performed as a soloist with numerous companies, including Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Sydney Philharmonia, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Cantata Collective, Madison Bach Musicians and Sacramento Baroque Soloists. In 2022 she was a Virginia Best Adams Fellow at the Carmel Bach Festival.
Some of her concert repertoire includes Bach’s Mass in B Minor (San Francisco Bach Choir), Vaughan William’s Serenade to Music (Sydney Philharmonia), Orff's Carmina Burana (Schola Cantorum), Handel’s Messiah (Chora Nova), Mozart’s Requiem (Sydney University Graduate Choir), Haydn’s Missa brevis (Masterworks Chorale), Bach’s Missa Divi Xaverii (California Bach Society), Bach’s Actus tragicus (Central Coast Chamber Choir), Whitbourn's Annalies (UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus) and numerous other Bach cantatas with Cantata Collective.
Morgan has performed the role of Cephise in Rameau’s Pigmalion with both Pinchgut Opera and American Bach Soloists. She also appeared as Honour in Purcell’s King Arthur with the Brisbane Baroque Festival.
As a Resident Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Morgan spent the 2019 - 2020 season covering the roles of Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Musetta in La bohème and was scheduled to perform Mrs Grady in The Shining (covid19).
Other operatic credits include Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, the titular role in Rodelinda, Frasquita in Carmen, Younger Alice in Glory Denied, Meleagro in Handel's Atalanta, Governess in The Turn of the Screw, and Annina in La traviata.
Alongside her work as a soloist, Morgan is an AGMA member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and has participated in numerous projects including the GRAMMY Award-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater. Morgan has also performed as a member of the San Francisco Opera Chorus and regularly appears with American Bach Soloists Cantorei.
Morgan has numerous awards from appearing in the international competition circuit. She was the 2019 Handel Aria Competition First Prize Winner, 2022 Lyndon Woodside Oratorio - Solo Oratorio Competition Esther Korshin Award Winner, 2021 Colorado Bach Ensemble Second Prize Winner and 2021 Kentucky Bach Audrey Rooney Vocal Competition Encouragement Award Winner.
In addition to her work as a classical vocalist, Morgan can be heard on the game soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.
