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.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.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.