After training as a chorister at Coventry Cathedral and choral scholar at Christ’s College Cambridge, where he read mathematics, Jonathan rounded-off his musical education at the Royal Academy of Music with a second degree, specializing in singing and composition. Jonathan’s compositional career includes works for theatre, film, radio, television, concert platform and the church, and a song-writing contract with Noel Gay Music. Recent large-scale commissions include Requiem for a Condemned Man – an extended work for two soloists, orchestra and choir and a 40 minute a cappella choral work for the Vasari Singers.

Jonathan Rathbone was Musical Director and arranger for the Swingle Singers (1984–96) and has worked with many of the world’s leading musicians, from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Pierre Boulez to Stephan Grappelli and George Martin.

He is now much in demand in Europe, the USA and UK, as a freelance choral director, arranger and workshop leader. A natural communicator, Jonathan leads workshops covering anything from close harmony singing, improvisation, choral conducting, vocal arranging to choral techniques.