Deemed “especially likeable and pleasing” by the Boston Globe’s Richard Dyer, baritone DeMar Austin Neal IV consistently delights audiences at home and abroad on both operatic and concert stages. He most recently made a number of professional debuts, including performances as El Dancaïro in Bizet’s Carmen with the North Carolina Opera, and as Ko-Ko in Sullivan’s The Mikado with Greenville Light Opera Works. He has performed a wide variety of stage roles, such as Junius in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, Belcore in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, and Falke in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Dr. Neal has received scholarships from the Varna Music Academy, Songfest Professional Program, Franco-American Vocal Academy, and the Austrian-American Mozart Academy.

Dr. Neal is also an active recitalist, adjudicator, and researcher, where his current scholarly interests focus on semi-occluded vocal tract voice therapy and the art songs of contemporary American composer Jake Heggie. He has received research grants from both the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Dr. Neal received his doctorate in vocal performance from the Florida State University, master’s degree in vocal performance from the Boston Conservatory, and bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also completed post-graduate certification in Vocology from the National Center of Voice and Speech.

Dr. Neal currently serves as an adjunct assistant professor at Elon University, Meredith College, and Mount Olive College, where he teaches applied voice, lyric diction, and music history. 

Doctor of Music - Vocal Performance - Florida State University (2010)

Certificate of Vocology  - National Center for Voice & Speech (2010)

Zertifikat Deutsch - Goethe Insitut - Berlin (2009)

Master of Music - Vocal Performance - The Boston Conservatory (2007)

Bachelor of Music - Vocal Performance; Minor - Chemistry - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2004)