Simon Halsey occupies a unique position in classical music. He is the trusted advisor on choral singing to the world’s greatest conductors, orchestras and choruses and an ambassador for choral singing to amateurs of every age.
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 appointed Artistic Advisor and Choral Director at the Oslo Philharmonic in 2025, and has held positions for many years with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Choruses, University of Birmingham, Orfeó Català at the Palau de la Música Barcelona, Rundfunkchor Berlin, WDR Rundfunkchor, and London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, retaining close associations with all of these organisations.
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.
Halsey is a highly respected teacher and academic, nurturing the next generation of choral conductors on his post-graduate course in Birmingham and through masterclasses worldwide. He holds four honorary doctorates from UK universities 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 the Birmingham Opera Company with Graham Vick. He was Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Choir (1997-2008), Principal Conductor of the Northern Sinfonia’s Choral Programme (2004-2012), Artistic Director of Orfeó Català and Artistic Advisor to the Palau de la Música Catalana (2016-2022), then Principal Guest Conductor and Choral Ambassador to Orfeó Català (2022-2026), and Principal Guest Conductor of the WDR Rundfunkhchor (2023-2026). 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.