John Byrt is a free-lance conductor, scholar, and composer.

In his youth he directed the Schola Cantorum of Oxford and was conductor of Musica Reservata.

He made the first recording of Taverner's Missa Corona Spinea and over the years has broadcast Gesualdo madrigals, Byrd propers and West Gallery Carols for the BBC.

He writes and lectures on baroque music. As a composer he is mainly known for his choral music: his folk song arrangements are sung all over the world. Recently he has turned his attention to solo songs and duets.