His music can be heard in cathedrals and community halls, at royal ceremonies in the British monarchy and in small school auditoriums: for decades, the work of British composer and conductor John Rutter has followed one guiding idea — to make choral music accessible to singers of all ages and backgrounds. On September 24, 2025, John Rutter celebrated his 80th birthday. Few lives are as closely intertwined with the art of choral singing as his.

Rutter’s mission has always been to write music that reaches both professionals and amateurs. “I think it’s very important for composers to have contact with the amateur world,” he said in NDR Kultur’s Chormusik podcast on the occasion of his milestone birthday. “I’m happier when I write music that can be performed either by good amateurs or by professionals.”

This philosophy has shaped his vast body of work — technically refined yet always singable. His music connects people and inspires choirs around the globe. Characterized by flowing melodies and a bright, often optimistic tone, his style combines musical craftsmanship with emotional immediacy — one reason why Rutter’s works are cherished by church choirs, youth ensembles, and professional groups worldwide.

About half of his compositions have a sacred background (The Lord bless you and keep you), while others belong to the secular repertoire (The Sprig of Thyme). Rutter himself describes his work as being influenced by a wide variety of sources: “I’m not a jazz musician and I’m not a pop musician either, but I’m influenced by both — as well as by folk music and musical theatre. I’m open to all kinds of inspiration.”

Since 2017, Sir John Rutter has served as Honorary Artistic President of INTERKULTUR. In this role, he supports the organization’s international choir events. For the World Choir Games, he composed the official anthem One Voice, which premiered in South Africa in 2018. The piece stands, in the words of INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch and Honorary Artistic President Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß, as “a unique symbol of the unifying power of music and song,” perfectly capturing the spirit of the World Choir Games — the Olympic Games of Choral Music.

“Composers never retire,” said John Rutter in the Chormusik podcast. “We keep going until the end — that’s how it has always been. I hope to make it to 150, that’s my goal. And if not, I’ll go as far as I can.”

His music remains a living legacy for choirs around the world — an invitation to listen, to sing, and to carry forward the message of hope that resonates through every one of his melodies.

Source: Podcast “Chormusik”, NDR Kultur