Subject: Simon Hallett is an employed classical musician at the Royal Opera House (ROH), Covent Garden – he plays the double bass.
Age range: 40-50 years. He is married, lives in Nine Elms, London and has a four-year-old daughter.
Interests: Cricket and his family.
RJL: Tell me about your family background.
Simon: I am the youngest of eight children born to Christian parents. We attended Westminster Chapel and, although I grew up in the Christian faith, it was at a camp when I was about 13 years old that I made my personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
RJL: Please can you explain how your work is organised?
Simon: My contract is for a number of hours a year. The orchestra plays for over 300 performances a year and there are also rehearsals. I work with a partner and we agree who plays for which productions. I also undertake some freelance work.
RJL: How did you come to play the double bass professionally?
Simon: I come from a musical family and played the oboe and cello as a child. When I was about 12 years old the school orchestra needed somebody to play the double bass and I took this on and loved it. I was in the National Youth Orchestra, and then I went to Cambridge before postgraduate studies of the double bass and conducting at the Guildhall.
RJL: How did your career develop?
Simon: For the first six years I was freelancing and teaching which involved a lot of international travel. This may seem to be a glamorous lifestyle for a single man, but for a Christian it can be quite lonely and disruptive of church life. As a result I decided to try and get an employed position. The job at the ROH, which I have had for 21 years, has been a great provision from God as it provides a regular income and there is much less travelling.
RJL: Do you work with any other Christians?
Simon: I have worked with a surprising number. In the early years there was some opportunity for fellowship but this was disrupted when the ROH closed for refurbishment. During this period I undertook some study at Cornhill. There are a number of support groups for Christians working in the performing arts such as the Arts Centre Group, the Christian Musicians Fellowship and my church (Christ Church, Mayfair) has a group for students, but I don’t think musicians have any unique issues.
RJL: Do you have any problems with the subject matter of the operas (some can be quite racy) or the way they are produced?
Simon: In practice, no! The orchestra is located in the pit, I cannot see what is happening on the stage and we aren’t told. The orchestra’s job is to provide the music! I don’t see my position as being different from that of a Christian in any other kind of work.
RJL: Are there any other areas where your job conflicts with your faith?
Simon: I don’t think that the pressures and temptations, even when touring, were any greater than in most areas of work. Fortunately, I only have to work about eight Sundays a year and on these I can usually attend church and have a day off. I lead a Bible study group, which is not usually affected by my professional commitments.
RJL: How are your relationships with other members of the orchestra?
Simon: Good! I am the Musicians Union representative for the orchestra, which gives me the opportunity to be ‘salt and light’.
RJL: Do you have any advice for a Christian music student?
Simon: Music is very competitive and can involve a lot of travelling and unsocial hours. It is a great way to learn to trust God to provide for you but you need to be accountable to another Christian and get fellowship and Bible teaching.
Quick Fire Questions:
• Hilary Mantel or Terry Pratchett? / Jane Austen.
• FT or Daily Mail ? / The Times
• BMW or Skoda? / BMW, but it must be big enough to transport my double bass!
• Roast beef or chicken tikka? / Both.
• Beethoven or Sternberg? / Beethoven, although I admire Mozart.
• Greenbelt or Keswick? / Word Alive.
