John Metcalf was born in Swansea, Wales in 1946. A joint UK/Canadian citizen, he is one of the foremost composers working in Wales in today. His composing career has already embraced a large variety of work including six operas, two to commission from Welsh National Opera. His fifth opera Kafka's Chimp was premiered to great acclaim in 1996 in Canada, received its European premiere in Sweden in 1999 and US premiere in Pittsburgh in 2004. His latest opera A Chair in Love was premiered at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea in October 2005.

Since the early 1990's a definitive series of orchestral and chamber works have helped to enhance his reputation nationally and internationally. These include Paradise Haunts, Dances from Forgotten Places and Mapping Wales. In December 1999 a collaboration with artist Catrin Webster on Transports was previewed at the Galeria Communale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome. This production, which subsequently included performances of Transports/Mobiles and Not the Stillness, received five performances in New York in October 2001 as part of the UK with NY Festival. A commission from the English Symphony Orchestra led to the writing of Cello Symphony for Raphael Wallfisch - recorded by Nimbus records and released in May 2005. In January 2005 he was featured composer at the Waterford New Music Days in Ireland.

Performances around the world marked John's 60th birthday year in 2006. Highlights included a special concert in Sofia in May, the North American premiere of A Chair in Love in Montreal in June, a performance of Three Mobiles at the World Saxophone congress in Slovenia in July and a special concert by Lontano in London. The BBC marked his anniversary year with a special commission In Time of Daffodils which was given its world premiere in St. Davids Hall, Cardiff by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone). Radio 3's Hear and Now programme also relayed a special concert as part of a John Metcalf at 60 celebration. He has recently completed a String Quartet Llwybrau Cân (Paths of Song) for the Sacconi Quartet.

John Metcalf was both an Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director at the Banff Centre, Canada for a period of nearly ten years and was Artistic Director of the Swansea Festival from 1996 - 2007. He is presently Artistic Director of the award-winning Vale of Glamorgan Festival. He has led creative music projects in more than one hundred schools throughout Wales, reflecting his belief in an active, participatory role for the composer in society.

He is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales, Lampeter, of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and of University College Cardiff. In September 1995 he received the John Edwards Memorial Award awarded by the Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music for his services to music in Wales. In 1999 his music was played during the signing, by Her Majesty the Queen, of the Act bringing into being Wales' first elected Assembly for 500 years. His music is recorded on the Lorelt, Sain, Cyfoes and Nimbus labels. Signum Classics recently recorded a disc of orchestral works performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for release in the autumn of 2007.

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