Nick Halley | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicholas Halley |
| Born | November 28, 1982 New York, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Choral director, percussionist |
| Website | nickhalley.com |
Nicholas Halley (born November 28, 1982) is a choral conductor, percussionist, keyboardist, and composer, based in Nova Scotia, Canada. [1] Halley is the Founder and Artistic Director of Capella Regalis Choirs, [2] and Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax. [3]
As a drummer and world percussionist, Halley has performed and recorded internationally with a wide range of musicians, including American musical icon James Taylor. [4] Halley performed with Taylor, Jimmy Buffet and Sarah McLaughlin at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York in 2016. [5] Halley has also performed with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (2013), at the Newport Folk Festival (2015), at the Save The Children's Centennial Celebration (2019), [6] and for various private parties.
In 2008, he released his debut album Barnum Hill, showcasing his own compositions. [7]
From 2005-2008 Halley worked as the assistant director of Chorus Angelicus, an acclaimed children's choir, and Gaudeamus, a professional adult chamber choir, both founded by his father, Paul Halley. [8] During this time, he performed as a conductor at Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, as well as on national and international tours. [9]
In 2008, Halley moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to continue studying under his father, Paul Halley who moved to Nova Scotia to become Director of Music at the University of King's College, St. George's Round Church, and the Atlantic School of Theology. [10] As an apprentice to his father, Halley continued to develop his musical life, focusing on developing skills in liturgical music, pipe organ and choral direction. [11]
From 2008-2021, Halley was the Assistant Director of Music at the University of King's College in Halifax. [12] Working together with his father who was Director of Music at the College, [13] they expanded the chapel music programme, initiated choral scholarships for students, and directed the King's College Chapel Choir. [14] The King's College Chapel Choir performed in weekly Evensongs and Choral Eucharists at the college chapel as well as the 'King's at the Cathedral' concert series (begun in 2008) of choral masterworks at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax. [15]
In 2010, Halley founded The King's Chorus, a choral ensemble of 60-80 singers for students at King's College, Dalhousie University and community members. [16] Under his direction, the King's Chorus performed two concerts a year, often with hired guest soloists and a chamber orchestra, including choral masterworks such as Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, Haydn’s Missa in Tempore Belli, Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, Britten’s St. Nicolas, Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Chandos Anthems, Dettingen Te Deum, etc., C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and various Bach cantatas. [17] Halley directed The King's Chorus from 2010-2021. [18]
Halley is perhaps most well known for his work as the Founder and Artistic Director of Capella Regalis Choirs, a Canadian charity and performing arts organization based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. [19] Capella Regalis, offers a unique and free musical education and professional-level performance training program to children and young adults. [20] [21] [22] Founded as the Capella Regalis Men & Boys Choir in 2010, Halley built upon the best aspects of the centuries-old European tradition of church choirs and to revitalize this method of music training in Canada. [23] Capella Regalis now comprises a Boys Choir, Girls Choir, [24] [25] and professional Men's Choir. These choirs sing regularly at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax, in Choral Evensong as part of the Cathedral's Sundays at Four series, [26] perform concerts throughout Nova Scotia and beyond, and have released a number of albums, and video performances on YouTube. [27]
For the 2013-14 season, Halley was the Host of CBC’s national radio program, Choral Concert. [28]
In 2015, Halley became the Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax. [29]
In 2012, Halley was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contribution to Canada and Nova Scotia through the arts, particularly for his work with Capella Regalis Men & Boys Choir. [30]
Halley currently lives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia with his wife and two children. [31]