Biography
David Halstead works as a freelance Choral Conductor in London. Since December 2018, David has been Director of Music for SAINT (saint.church), working across many parishes in East London, and directs The Esterhazy Singers (esterhazysingers.com) and the Watford Palace Theatre Community Choir (watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk).
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, and then studying for MMus Choral Conducting at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, working with Paul Spicer and Simon Halsey amongst other teachers, finishing both courses with Distinction.
The Beaufort Chorale
In 2015, David founded the Beaufort Chorale (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 concerts, and choral weekends in Southwark, Bristol and Leicester Cathedrals. At the latter, the choir was chosen in 2016 to sing for the annual Bosworth Commemoration service, celebrating the anniversary of Richard III’s reinterment. Together they have travelled internationally to Carcassonne, where they performed to great acclaim.
Other Work
David has recently 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 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 regularly with chamber groups. He has sung with the BBC Symphony Chorus since 2014, with whom he has frequently performed at the BBC Proms, and featured as a soloist and in semi-choruses. David continues work as a freelance piano, theory and voice tutor, alongside continuing work in the primary and secondary music classroom.
