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David Halstead MEd MA
David Halstead works as a freelance Choral Director in London, regularly working with a diverse range of all-age choirs.
David read Music at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he sang in the Chapel Choir, as well as occasionally conducting and playing the organ for services. He initially trained as a secondary music teacher, and worked in the classroom for six years, eventually completing a Master of Education (MEd) degree at the University of Cambridge, achieving a Distinction. He is currently studying for MMus Choral Conducting at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, working with Paul Spicer and Simon Halsey amongst other teachers.
In 2015, David founded the Beaufort Chorale (www.beaufortchorale.com), a chamber choir made up principally of fellow alumni of Christ’s College, with whom he has since directed tours around the country, including to Westminster Abbey, Bristol, Southwark and Leicester Cathedral. At the latter, the choir was chosen in 2016 to sing for the annual Bosworth Commemoration service, celebrating the reinternment of Richard III in the building. They have also travelled internationally to Carcassonne, where they performed to great acclaim.
Since December 2018, David has been Director of Music for St John at Hackney Church (hackney.church), and for the Watford Palace Theatre Community Choir (watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk). He has also directed the British Airways Choir, conducting and arranging respective National Anthems and songs for performance at Twickenham (England v Ireland, 24 August 2019) in front of a crowd exceeding 80,000 spectators. David has also held conducting positions with the New Maidenhead Choir, the Medic to Medic Choir, Ex Silentio, the Bingham Consort, and Christ’s Jazz, and has acted as MD for musical theatre productions including Bugsy Malone and Grease.
David also works as an arranger and composer, using his works with his choirs. As a tenor, he sings with the RBC Chamber Choir, and regularly deputises for different chamber groups. He has sung with the BBC Symphony Chorus since 2014, with whom he has regularly performed at the Proms, and featured as a soloist and in semi-chorus roles. David also continues work as a freelance piano, theory and voice tutor, alongside continuing work in the primary and secondary music classroom.
David Halstead is a Choral Director and Musician based in North London. Founder of the Beaufort Chorale, Director of Music at Hackney Church and Watford Palace Theatre.
http://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk