John Smith has had a long career in choral singing and music education. As a composer of choral compositions he values singability and an understanding of the human voice as a lyrical instrument. A desire to remain faithful to the text of each composition whilst also engaging the performers and listeners musically results in an approachable and authentic music that serves the liturgy and listener.

John began his musical education singing as a boy treble in Bradford Cathedral Choir. Whilst a chorister he sang the daily office and took part in several broadcasts on BBC radio. As a treble he became a well known soloist and travelled the north of England singing on the oratorio circuit.
In 1966 John won a choral exhibition to study music at Christchurch College, Oxford. His first compositions were written as an undergraduate. During his studies he sang in the choir of Christchurch College and it was here that his compositions were first sung publicly and entered the repertory of the choir.

During his PGCE studies at Newcastle University in 1969 John developed an interest in the Kodaly technique. This voice led approach to music education appealed to his own musical development as being first and foremost a singer. The ethos of the Kodaly method informed his own compositions aiding their accessibility for amateur choirs.

John was appointed director of a specialist music school for girls in 1971 it was here that he composed his introit “Ave Maria” for female voices. Further compositions followed aimed at supporting the musical life of the school and the development of young voices. In a belief that music education needed to focus on younger children John moved into Primary school education. John expanded his compositional activities into arrangements of folksongs for children’s choirs. The aim of these compositions was to build children’s musical confidence to be able to sing three part harmony by the age of 11.
Throughout this time John has continued singing for a number of choirs including The William Byrd singers and the Chester Bach singers as well as a number of cathedral and church choirs in the North West of England. As a conductor his main interest lies in the Renaissance and Baroque periods of choral music.

In recent years John has focused his compositions on providing liturgical music that is practical for use both by parish church choirs and larger cathedral choirs. In keeping with his roots as a singer his music has a particular focus on melodic line in all voice parts.