John Baird hails from Greenock in the west of Scotland. Despite making London his home since his college days, he maintains a strong affinity with Scotland, and its influence is apparent in much of his music.

John studied with Herbert Howells and Sir Adrian Boult at the Royal College of Music, where he also met his wife, Penny. Subsequently, he has divided his career between composing, conducting, playing and teaching – mainly at Westminster School – becoming Director of Music there in 1983 and then Composer-in-Residence from 1996 to 1999.

Since retiring from Westminster School and a career largely spent in the environs of Westminster Abbey, John now enjoys working in Wandsworth Common, the London suburb where he first settled as a student. Besides composing and teaching, John is organist and choirmaster at the local St Mary Magdalene church and conductor of Medici Choir.