Principal Director of Music (Army)
Commanding Officer, Royal Military School of Music
Lieutenant Colonel Craig Hallatt
Lieutenant Colonel Hallatt joined the Army in Sept 1985. After qualifying to be a Bandmaster in 2000 he saw subsequent tours at the Lowland Band of the Scottish Division and The Life Guards. Operationally he was deployed for the war-fighting phase of the first Gulf War in Kuwait and Iraq working with the Chemical Weapons Early Warning Cell and Prisoner of War Tactical Questioning Team.
Lt Col Hallatt was commissioned to become the SO3 Recruiting for the Corps of Army Music in 2007 following which he became Director of Music of the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
In September 2011, Lt Col Hallatt was appointed as the last Director of Music of The Royal Artillery Woolwich Band and saw their departure from Woolwich after 252 years. He was operationally deployed on operations Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick 19. After a short tour as Officer Commanding Training and Development, Lt Col Hallatt was appointed to be the Director of Music the Band of the Household Cavalry.
As a keen composer, a career highlight for Lt Col Hallatt was in 2018, when his music was performed at the Classic FM Live concert at The Royal Albert Hall, by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, multiple choirs and military musicians from all three services – which was given a standing ovation.
Lt Col Hallatt has also had several CDs released; the most successful, Elegy, reached No. 12 in the Classical Charts.
In September 2018 Lt Col Hallatt became the Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall and played a pivotal role in the relocation of the school to Portsmouth in June 2021. He finally realised a boyhood dream in July 2021 becoming Director of Music of the Band of the Welsh Guards.
In June 2022 Lt Col Hallatt became the Principal Director of Music (Army).
RCAM 30 Legacy Recordings
Carolean Jubilate – Craig Hallatt
Carolean Jubilate (jubilation in the Age of King Charles III) was composed by Craig Hallatt in 2023, to celebrate The Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023. It was commissioned by SSAFA the Armed Forces charity, formerly known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association
Carolean Jubilate is a celebratory work and the music taking the listener on a journey surrounded by the events of His Majesty The King’s Coronation. It also features a moving tribute and moment of reflection for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The five elements of the composition start with the Arrival of The King’s Procession at Westminster Abbey. This exciting build up of musicportrays the Pomp and Ceremony of the occasion, with fanfares and powerful themes.
This is followed by Westminster Bells – a representation of the rejoicing of the bells of the Abbey.
The Crown focusses on the presentation of the Magisterial Crown and has subtle rhythmic connotations of Walton’s “Crown Imperial March”.
Tears of a Nation – In Memoriam reflects the palpable sense of national grief the United Kingdom demonstrated on the death of Her Late Majesty and allows the listener a moment to recall their personal memories of Queen Elizabeth II.
Finally, Live Long and Prosper (Here’s a Health…) begins with a reference to the English Patriotic song: “Here’s a Health Unto His Majesty” and dates from the reign of King Charles II. The song was composed by Jeremy Savile, a prominent teacher during the English Commonwealth and Restoration and published in 1667.
Fanfares and soaring brass return for the Finale section – wishing a long and prosperous reign for His Majesty, King Charles III.