In Memoriam: Roy Hallman (1925 - 2007)

This website is dedicated to the choir's co-founders Roy & Nyle Hallman.

Over a lifetime of extraordinary achievements, Roy Hallman forged new paths to excellence. He was a dreamer who had the ability and talent to turn his imaginings into reality, a communicator who remembered the importance of listening. He was a skilled musician who captured the enthusiasm of hundreds of eager young people and knew how to mold their voices into a symphony of praise to God. He could see the potential in every person and opened many doors of opportunity. He was a husband who loved and admired his gifted wife and frequently told her how much he appreciated her. As a father of three, grandfather of four, and great-grantfather of six, he created a warm home with firm guidance and Christian values.

Born in Chicago in 1925, Roy was the only child of Willard and Ramona Hallman, a dedicated team in church music ministry. His parents had a profound influence on Roy's future calling. His training began when he sang in his father's boy choir and learned all the traditional hymns by heart. Those texts became the foundation of his faith and the basis of his desire to follow his parents' footsteps.

From the time he was a young man, Roy had a vision for the broader scope of choral music. As preparation to achieve his goal, he graduated from Westminster Choir College and earned his Master's Degree in Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary. In 1948, he married Nyle DuFresne, who became his life-long partner. Together, they headed the music department of Cascade College in Portland, Oregon, and worked in churches in Philadelphia, White Plains (NY), Minneapolis, El Paso and Tulsa.

Roy's plans were always larger than life; he wanted to reach the world through music and change lives. He succeeded in both of these goals by bringing music to people in every walk of life. In the 1960s, Roy founded and directed the 200-voice International Symphonic Choir, which consisted of members from both El Paso, Texas and Juarex, its sister city in Mexico. Even the obstacle of having no rehearsal piano was solved by transporting one by truck from El Paso to Juarez each week. The performance of this goodwill choir bridged the differences in language and culture, a concept well before its time.

His service in the U.S. Navy as a medic on the USS Rescue during World War II included time spent in Hawaii, where Roy vowed to return some day. Little did he know that in 1969, he would accept the position of Minister of Music at Central Union Church. He arrived with his wife Nyle, and their three children, Gretchen, Kathy and Bob to begin a new life in the Islands.

He directed six choirs at Central Union Church, ranging from the smallest singers in Keiki Choir to the most experienced voices in the Chancel Choir. One of his first innovations as Minister of Music was to recruit high-schoolers to the newly-formed Hawaii Youth Chorale, a dynamic group of enthusiastic singers that participated every Sunday and traveled throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. In addition to contributing to the worship service through inspirational music, the church choirs were involved in a broad spectrum of musical opportunities; chldren's musicals, Christmas concerts in the community, the Valentine's and Christmas Pops concerts, two oratorios each year, including the annual performance of Handel's Messiah to an ever-appreciative standing-room-only audience. And everyone remembers the joy with which Roy led the congregation in singing The Lord's Prayer. He served as Minister of Music at CUC for 29 wonderful and rewarding years before retiring in 1998, when he was named Minister of Music Emeritus.

Roy had an abiding love for Hawaii, its people and its culture. In seeking ways to make a firm commitment to the community, he founded The Honolulu Boy Choir in 1974, an organization that welcomed youngsters from every ethnic and social group, to form a true cultural "rainbow" of song. During Roy's 20 years of leadership, The Honolulu Boy Choir became an ambassador to the world as they toured and performed for countless audiences, bringing the choir to the forefront of international entertainment. This fulfilled yet another of Roy's challenges - to provide the future leaders of Hawaii with unforgettable experiences in a tuition-free choir that would create and foster lasting friendships and develop talent and characters in Hawaii's youth.

Although these accomplishments required consistent discipline and dedication, Roy's quick smile and keen wit were a reflection of the warmth he felt for those around him. He was always ready with a kind word, an encouraging pat on the shoulder and a vote of unconditional confidence.

After a major heart attack, Roy's life at home with Nyle, his wife of 58 years, was filled with wonderful memories and contentment. He died peacefully in his sleep on April 19, 2007 at the age of 82.