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 holds positions across the UK and Europe as Chorus Director of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Principal Guest Conductor and Choral Ambassador of Orfeó Català, 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.

He 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.

Neil Ferris is Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus, Artistic Director and Conductor of the professional chamber choir Sonoro, and Festival Conductor of the Leith Hill Festival. With Sonoro Neil has conducted at the St Magnus International Festival, the Wimbledon International Music Festival and King’s Place in London, and with the BBC Symphony Chorus at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. 

In demand as guest conductor at some of the finest choirs in the UK, Neil has worked with the BBC Singers, Choir of the Age of Enlightenment, London Voices, the National Youth Choir, and the National Youth Choir of Wales. He also leads workshops for the Royal Opera House Sing at ROH programmeand singing holidays for Helicon Arts and Run By Singers.

Orchestras that Neil has conducted include London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, London Mozart Players, City of London Sinfonia and Orchestra of the Swan. As a teacher, Neil has led masterclasses in the UK at the Royal Academy of Music, RoyalWelsh Conservatoire of Music and Drama, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, University of Birmingham, and abroad in the USA, Ireland, Denmark, China, Malaysia and Singapore.

Recordings include the world premiere recording of Cecilia McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem and Seventy Degrees below Zero, with Wimbledon Choral and City of London Sinfonia, an album of the choral music of Jonathan Dove (Naxos), and a regular programme of recordings with Sonoro. Their album Christmas with Sonoro was selected as Christmas album choice in the BBC Music Magazine. This year Sonoro released an album of the choral music of Stephen Dodgson on the SOMM label.

Mariana Rosas is an Argentinian conductor based in the UK and Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus. In that role she has collaborated with Sir Antonio Pappano, Giannandrea Noseda, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Nathalie Stutzmann, Susanna Mälkki, Teodor Currentzis and Dr André J. Thomas.

As well as her work with the LSC, Mariana has collaborated with the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Birmingham Opera Company, Rundfunkchor Berlin, BBC Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Crouch End Festival Chorus, SWR Symphony Orchestra (Stuttgart), London Voices and the West Midlands Inclusive Choir. She also holds teaching and conducting positions at the University of Birmingham. Mariana’s 2024-2025 engagements include working with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal College of Music and the WDR Rundfunkchor Cologne.

Mariana was educated in Italy and Argentina, where she studied at the National University of Arts of Argentina and the Conservatoire of the City of Buenos Aires “Manuel de Falla”. In 2018 she moved to the UK to study at the University of Birmingham with Simon Halsey CBE.

Prior to her move to the UK, she was Assistant Professor of Choral Practice at the National University of Arts in Buenos Aires, and has worked as a guest conductor in Denmark, Canada, Italy, and Switzerland. She enjoys working with singers of all abilities and ages and is engaged regularly as a guest conductor with amateurs and professionals alike.

Gavin Allsop is University Music Manager at the University of Birmingham, where he oversees the wide variety of practical music-making across the student body. A graduate of Cardiff University, Gavin has 15 years of experience in the arts, and has previously worked for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, and the Royal Musical Association. Gavin has been involved in delivering concerts across the UK and Europe at all levels, and now enjoys working with young people to facilitate high-quality musical opportunities.