Simon Halsey, one of the world’s most renowned choral conductors and three-time Grammy winner, has been appointed Choral Director and Artistic Advisor to the Oslo Philharmonic for the next five years. |
| Simon Halsey joins the Oslo Philharmonic as Artistic Advisor with immediate effect. His first project as Choral Director will take place this September when the choir and orchestra perform Duruflé’s Requiem and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, under the direction of Chief Conductor, Klaus Mäkelä. Additional plans for the 2025/26 include a sing-along performance of the Mozart Requiem in March 2026, for which choirs across Europe will be invited to perform. |
| “I feel very privileged to be a part of the Oslo Philharmonic and its brilliant artistic team led by Klaus Mäkelä, and to take responsibility for the excellent choir” said Simon Halsey. “Norway strikes me as an exciting and motivated cultural nation, which inspires me! I hope that my many years of experience will enable me to contribute to the continued success story of the Oslo Philharmonic, its enthusiastic musicians and the important and vibrant choral and music life, both in the city and the country at large.” |
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| photo credit: WDR |
| Simon Halsey holds a unique position in classical music, being a trusted advisor in choral singing to the world’s leading conductors, orchestras and choirs. Making singing a central part of the many world-class institutions with which he has been associated, he has been instrumental in changing the level of symphonic singing across Europe. |
| Welcoming him to the team, Chief Conductor, Klaus Mäkelä said “I feel personally honored and grateful that Simon Halsey has accepted our invitation to be Choral Director and Artistic Advisor to the Oslo Philharmonic. He is an incredibly inspiring musician who has raised choral singing to a whole new level.” |
| Knut Skansen, Managing Director of the Oslo Philharmonic said: “I am proud and excited to welcome Simon Halsey to the Oslo Philharmonic. Simon is the most influential choral conductor of our time, with a career that includes collaborations with many of the world’s leading choirs, orchestras and conductors. His broad experience and strong commitment to both artistic development and projects that promote diversity and community, give us a unique opportunity to further develop the Oslo Philharmonic Choir and the Oslo Philharmonic’s activities.” |
| “I would also like to thank Øystein Fevang for his outstanding contribution in leading the Oslo Philharmonic Choir for 19 seasons. His work has been invaluable to the choir’s development, and has created a solid foundation for further development.” |
| Simon Halsey has had a great impact on all institutions he has led. He started with the City of Birmingham Orchestra Choruses in 1982, with whom he still has a close collaboration. During his time with the prestigious Rundfunkchor Berlin, he received three Grammy Awards, and as an ambassador for choral singing among amateurs of all ages he has led groundbreaking mass choir arrangements, notably for New York’s Lincoln Center. In addition to his ambitious plans with the Oslo Philharmonic, he looks forward to continuing his parallel relationships with the orchestras and choruses with whom he has worked so closely with over the years. |
