Simon Halsey

Simon Halsey is Artistic Advisor and Choral Director of the Oslo Philharmonic, Chorus Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Choruses, Conductor Laureate of the Rundfunkchor Berlin, and Choral Director Emeritus of the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. His previous roles have included Principal Guest Conductor and Choral Ambassador of Orfeó Català (2016–26), Principal Guest Conductor at WDR Rundfunkchor (2023–26) and Choral Director of the London Symphony Chorus (2011–23).

This season, Halsey returns to the Prague Philharmonic Choir and Czech Philharmonic for Rachmaninov »The Bells« with Semyon Bychkov, conducts a massed chorus in Bach »St Matthew Passion« at Leipzig’s Bachfest, and leads collaborative singing events in Paris, Berlin, and Dortmund. Highlights with the Oslo Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra include Elgar »The Dream of Gerontius« with Christian Măcelaru and Bach »St John Passion« with Richard Egarr.

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. His work is the subject of the documentary film »Unsere Herzen – Ein Klang« (Our Hearts – One Sound).

Born in London, Simon Halsey sang in the choirs of New College, Oxford and King’s College, Cambridge, and studied conducting at the Royal College of Music in London.