Simon Halsey

Making singing a central part of the world-class institutions with which he is associated, he has been instrumental in changing the level of symphonic singing across Europe. He was recently appointed Artistic Advisor and Choral Director at the Oslo Philharmonic, and also holds positions across the UK and Europe as Principal Guest Conductor and Choral Ambassador of Orfeó Català, Chorus Director of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Choruses, Principal Guest Conductor at WDR Rundfunkchor, Conductor Laureate of Rundfunkchor Berlin, Choral Director Emeritus of London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and Professor and Director of Choral Activities at University of Birmingham. His work is the subject of the documentary film Unsere Herzen – Ein Klang (Our Hearts – One Sound), which was released to cinemas in September 2022.

In 2025/26, Halsey will prepare the Prague Philharmonic Choir for performances of Dallapiccola’s Il Prigioniero with the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Antonio Pappano, and the Chœur de Radio France in Britten’s War Requiem alongside the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France with Mirga Grazynte-Tyla.  He also returns to lead several collaborative choral weeks with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, a long-term collaborator.  Highlights from his titled roles across the U.K. and Europe this season include Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé suite with the Oslo Philharmonic and Kazuki Yamada, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the CBSO, also with Yamada, Mahler 3 with Joyce DiDonato, the Berlin Rundfunkchor, and Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and performances of the Human Requiem (a choreographed performance of Brahms’s German Requiem as first performed by the Berlin Rundfunkchor in 2012) with Orféo Català.

Halsey is also a highly respected teacher and academic, nurturing the next generation of choral conductors on his post-graduate course in Birmingham and through masterclasses in Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA. He holds four honorary doctorates from universities in the UK, and in 2011 Schott Music published his book and DVD on choral conducting, Chorleitung: Vom Konzept zum Konzert.

Halsey’s numerous awards include three Grammys for his recordings with the Rundfunkchor Berlin. He was made Commander of the British Empire in 2015, was awarded The Queen’s Medal for Music in 2014, and received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to choral music in Germany.

Born in London, Simon Halsey sang in the choirs of New College, Oxford, and of King’s College, Cambridge and studied conducting at the Royal College of Music in London. In 1987, he founded with Graham Vick the Birmingham Opera Company. He was Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Choir from 1997 to 2008 and Principal Conductor of the Northern Sinfonia’s Choral Programme from 2004 to 2012. From 2001-2015 he led the Rundfunkchor Berlin (of which he is now Conductor Laureate); under his leadership the chorus gained a reputation internationally as one of the finest professional choral ensembles. Halsey also initiated innovative projects in unconventional venues and interdisciplinary formats.

Not to be altered without the permission of Intermusica. Correct as of 4 August 2025, 545 words.