Paul Halley

Paul Halley (born 1952 in Romford, England) is a keyboardist, vocalist and composer. He is perhaps best known as being a member of and composer for the Paul Winter Consort.

Paul Halley
GenresChoral, new-age, gospel
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsPiano, organ, vocals, harpsichord, keyboards

Biography

Paul Halley was born in England in 1952. His father was a musician, and when he emigrated with his family to Canada, he sang in the choir of St. Matthew's Church, Ottawa.[1] At age 16, he became an Associate of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and won an organ scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1977, Halley became the organist and choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, one of the largest cathedrals in the world, located in New York City. Between 1977 and 1989, Halley became a member of the Paul Winter Consort, collaborated with Paul Winter to create the Missa Gaia/Earth Mass and earned five Grammy Awards for his contributions as a composer and performer with the group. He left the Consort in 1999 after recording Journey with the Sun to pursue a solo career, recording several albums and founding several high-level arts organizations along the way. Paul Halley's compositions have been performed and recorded by the New Jersey Symphony and John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra.[2]

After leaving the Cathedral in 1989, Halley founded Joyful Noise, Inc., a non-profit organization, designed to teach children proper vocal technique, music theory, and musicianship. The two groups involved with the organization, Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, are both still active.[3] From 1999 to 2007 he also served as music director at Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington, Connecticut.

From July 2007 to December 2021 Halley served as Director of Music at both the University of King's College and All Saints Cathedral in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[4][5]

Family

Halley is married to Meg Race, who manages his music licensing business, Pelagos Music,[6] and has three children: a son (Nick), who directs the Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir, and two daughters (Samantha and Vanessa).

Discography
  • Nightwatch (1982)
  • Pianosong (1986)
  • New Friend (1986) with Eugene Friesen
  • Whales Alive (1987) with Paul Winter and Leonard Nimoy
  • Angel on a Stone Wall (1991)
  • Voices of Light (1994)
  • Christmas Angelicus (1995)
  • Sound Over All Waters (1998) with Theresa Thomason
  • Triptych (2000)
  • Let Us Keep The Feast (2014)
  • In the Wide Awe and Wisdom (2017)

References
  1. Robb, Peter. "Music and Beyond: The musical journey of Paul Halley – ARTSFILE". Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  2. "About Paul Halley". Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  3. "Paul Halley Leaving For Canada - Norfolk Now". Norfolk Now. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  4. "Cathedral organ". www.cathedralchurchofallsaints.com. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. Announcement, Pelargos Music. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  6. Pelargos Music. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
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