Simon Halligan, Baritone

Simon sang at Schubertiade 327.

Bom on the 10th June 1986, 21 year old Simon began singing lessons at the age of 9 with Sussane Towers, who remained his vocal coach until the end of 2005. He has also studied Grade 2 pianoforte and Grade 3 musicianship with Michelle Gore.

Simon was a founding member of The Three Boy Sopranos, with whom he performed at a number of venues in NSW between 1997 and 1999. He was a member of the children’s chorus in the Opera Australia productions of Hansel & Gretel (1998) and Turandot (1999).

Simon has performed the role of Kurt in the Parramatta Musical Society’s production of The Sound of Music (1998), and was a member of the children’s chorus in the Blue Mountains Musical Society production of Oliver (1998).

For 3 years, Simon was boy soprano soloist at the St Finbars Carol Service, Glenbrook, under the musical direction of Amy Johanson. He has also sung at the Nepean Belle Carols by Candlelight on 3 occasions, both as a soloist and as a choir member. He has performed in concerts at Sydney Town Hall as a member of The Three Boy Sopranos, and as a soloist in 2000.

Simon competed in the Blue Mountains Eisteddfod in 1999, gaining second place in the Sacred Song, Character Song and Open Sections. He was a member of the St Dominic’s College Choir that achieved first place in both the Junior and Senior School Choral sections of the Penrith Eisteddfod in 1999.

Simon was invited to sing the National Anthem at the official opening of extensions at St Dominic’s College, where he was a student, and has performed at various College music concerts. He has also sung at a Naturalization Ceremony at the Penrith City Council Chambers.

Simon’s voice changed in 2000, and he is now a baritone. He played the role of Zebulun, one of the brothers, in the Blue Mountains Musical Society production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (2001). He was also Assistant Director/Stage Manager for the Voice Dynamics Music Theatre Showcase under the direction of Sussane Towers (2001).

In 2002, Simon took classes in Jazz and Street Funk dancing with “The House of Dance” studio, and attended “Stageworks” acting and drama workshops with Out of the Blue Performing Arts. With Blue Mountains Musical Society, he also played the role of Clan Leader MacGregor in Brigadoon (2002) and Sir Gwilliam of Wales in Camelot (2002). Simon was also heavily involved in the Voice Dynamics Music Theatre Showcase and the end-of-year Scholarship concert where he secured the Voice Dynamics Junior Scholarship for 2003 and won the Audience Choice Award. Also in 2002 and 2003, Simon was a contracted artist to Mercure Resorts performing radio plays during the peak tourist seasons.

In 2003, Simon tackled his first adult principal role as Prince Charming in the Blue Mountains Musical Society production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Also Simon attended Estill Vocal workshops as Intern conducted by Peter Egan under Voice Dynamics. In 2004, Simon shifted focus to his studies for the Higher School Certificate. Having successfully completed his exams, Simon was named on the Board of Studies Honour Role for outstanding performance in the Music 1 course. At the 2004 Voice Dynamics Scholarship Workshop, Simon secured the Voice Dynamics Scholarship for 2005 and received the Audience Choice Award. He also appeared as a guest soloist at the 2004 Rotary Club Nepean Christmas Carols.

In 2005, Simon completed the 2005 season of A Mid-summer Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Alexander Productions (formerly Alexander Performing Arts), playing the principal role of Gasparo and being a member of several featured ensembles in The Triumphs of Venus. Simon also began his studies for a B. Arts (Music and Psychology) with The University of Sydney. Simon also played the comic role of Pish Tush in the Blue Mountains Musical Society’s highly successful production of The Mikado.

Shortly after this, Simon received a scholarship to participate in A Mid-winter recital at the Sydney Conservatorium with Alexander Productions as a soloist and in the role of the Police Sergeant. As a result of this achievement, Simon was invited to sing a recital at the Penrith Conservatorium of Music (where he was a student) along with two other high-achieving singers. Following this, Simon has had a string of singing engagements with organizations such as the Sydney Probus Club, Macdonald College, and the grand opening of the new Q Theatre at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, where he performed for dignitaries including The Governor, The Premier of NSW and The Mayor of Penrith.

In the latter half of 2005, Simon’s engagements included concerts with the Penrith Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Henryk Pisarek and a Gala Performance in the presence of Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge to celebrate the refurbishment of the Penrith Conservatorium. Simon received vocal coaching from Glen Wynslade and also resumed dance training in Jazz with the Sydney Dance Company.

In 2006, Simon performed the role of Pete in the world premiere production of the Australian opera, Love’s Lessons Learned by Alexander Sussman and Dof Dickinson as part of the 2006 season of Alexander Productions’ A Midsummer Opera. Simon also commenced his studies for B. Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Associate Professor Michael Halliwell. He was the recipient of the Geoffrey Rothwell Scholarship for Conservatorium study and was the only B. Mus student selected for participation in the major opera studio production of Haydn’s Il Mondo Della Luna under the direction of Christine Douglas and the baton of Prof. Imre Pallo.

In late 2006, Simon also pursued solo acting in a short film, Paranoia! with Independent Productions. He finished the year with a public performance of the song cycle for voice, piano, and trumpet, …To cast a shadow again by Eric Ewazen at the Sydney Conservatorium.

In 2007, Simon is continuing his studies at the Sydney Conservatorium, including regular coaching with Nicole Dorigo and Simon Kenway. He has also been offered positions in the Extra Chorus for Opera Australia’s winter season of Tannhäuser and as The Baritone Soloist for Singapore Vocal Association’s International Symposium performance of Carmina Burana.