Simon Halsey
Encyclopedia
Simon Halsey is an English choral conductor.
Born in London
, Halsey sang in the choirs of both New College, Oxford
and King's College, Cambridge
. He studied conducting at the Royal College of Music
in London.
Since 1983, Halsey has been the Chorus Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
. He founded the City of Birmingham Youth Chorus in 1995. His position with the CBSC brings him into regular contact with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
, including as conductor of the annual Christmas Concerts. In 1987, he founded the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (since 2001 the Birmingham Opera Company
) with leading international opera director Graham Vick
. In addition, he is Artistic Director and founder of the professional choir European Voices, and Principal Conductor, Choral Programme for the Northern Sinfonia
.
Halsey served as Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Choir (Groot Omroepkoor) since 1997, and relinquished this position in 2008. Since 2001, he has also served as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berlin Radio Choir (Rundfunkchor Berlin).
Halsey has worked with orchestras and choirs all over the world. He has also conducted projects as diverse as Handel
's Messiah
with the Minnesota Orchestra
and Fauré
's Requiem
with the CBSC and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Halsey has also been involved with numerous recordings, including a live recording of Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the CBSC and the Vienna Philharmonic, under Simon Rattle
. In 2006 he conducted the CBSC in their first completely choral recording, an album of English Choral Favourites. In addition, Halsey is consultant editor on Faber Music
's Choral Programme Series of sheet music.
Halsey and his wife Lucy live outside Birmingham
. They have two children.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Halsey sang in the choirs of both New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. He studied conducting at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London.
Since 1983, Halsey has been the Chorus Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus
The CBSO Chorus is a chorus based in Birmingham, England. It is regarded as one of the finest symphony choruses in Europe.It was founded in 1974 as the CBSO Chorus, but between 1995 and 2009 was known officially as The City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus...
. He founded the City of Birmingham Youth Chorus in 1995. His position with the CBSC brings him into regular contact with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
, including as conductor of the annual Christmas Concerts. In 1987, he founded the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (since 2001 the Birmingham Opera Company
Birmingham Opera Company
Birmingham Opera Company is a professional opera company based in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England, that specialises in innovative and avant-garde productions of the operatic repertoire, often in unusual venues....
) with leading international opera director Graham Vick
Graham Vick
Graham Vick CBE is an English opera director. He studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester....
. In addition, he is Artistic Director and founder of the professional choir European Voices, and Principal Conductor, Choral Programme for the Northern Sinfonia
Northern Sinfonia
The Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, based initially in Newcastle upon Tyne, and currently in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave the bulk of its concerts at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2004, the orchestra has been resident at The...
.
Halsey served as Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Choir (Groot Omroepkoor) since 1997, and relinquished this position in 2008. Since 2001, he has also served as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berlin Radio Choir (Rundfunkchor Berlin).
Halsey has worked with orchestras and choirs all over the world. He has also conducted projects as diverse as Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
with the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
and Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's Requiem
Requiem (Fauré)
Gabriel Fauré composed his Requiem in D minor, Op. 48 between 1887 and 1890. This choral–orchestral setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead is the best known of his large works. The most famous movement is the soprano aria Pie Jesu...
with the CBSC and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Halsey has also been involved with numerous recordings, including a live recording of Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the CBSC and the Vienna Philharmonic, under Simon Rattle
Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE is an English conductor. He rose to international prominence as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since 2002 has been principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic ....
. In 2006 he conducted the CBSC in their first completely choral recording, an album of English Choral Favourites. In addition, Halsey is consultant editor on Faber Music
Faber Music
Faber Music is a British sheet music publisher best known for contemporary classical music. It also publishes music tutor books, and in 2005 acquired popular music publisher International Music Publications....
's Choral Programme Series of sheet music.
Halsey and his wife Lucy live outside Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. They have two children.
External links
- Intermusica biography
- CBSO biography
- Conductor profile on Rias Kammerchor page
- Intermusica profile
- CBSO Podcast - May 2008 Looking back at 25 years as Chorus Director of the CBSC