John Dankworth CBE - Film & Television Music Composer

John Dankworth's career as performer, composer and conductor spans almost fifty years. It is unlikely that there is a British musician better known for a wider range of activities.

Born in 1927, Dankworth studied clarinet at London's Royal Academy of Music. His early career led to a succession of honours and to two hit records. His composing career has covered film, theatre, ballet and musicals, works for choir and orchestra, symphonic variations, piano and clarinet concerto and string quartet.

He lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife, vocalist Dame Cleo Laine. Here, in 1969, they founded the Wavendon Allmusic Plan, a vision that led to the establishment of The Stables,Wavendon as an internationally renowned arts centre. Since the opening of its new building in October 2000 with the aid of lottery finance, the theatre continues to provide performers, students and audience alike with a centre of musical excellence second to none.

Dankworth founded the London Symphony Orchestra's Summer Pops in 1985 and has continued to work with symphony orchestras worldwide. His active jazz life, including many appearances and recordings with Cleo Laine, shows no sign of abating, and he remains a dominant force on the British jazz scene and a figure known and respected by jazz-lovers the world over.