John is a Capetonian through and through; educated at the South African College Schools and then the University of Cape Town's College of Music.  John majored in Recorder (that's right - one of those horrible squeaky pipes that kids torture us with!), then went on to spend five years with the Senior Staff Band of the South African Navy as principal flute and piccolo player.  It was during his stay here that he started developing his keyboard skills - there was a lot of free time!  Later John went on to play keyboards in several major productions including "Evita" and Cameron Mackintosh's Australian world tour production of "Les Miserables".  In 1987 John left the Navy and began to teach back at his alma mater.  Whilst changing careers John had the good fortune to meet Prof. Mike Campbell of UCT's Jazz Department and joined his commercial band "Razzmatazz"; as well as becoming the late Gerry Bosman's pianist in his Symphonic Pops concerts.  Maestro Bosman became John's friend and mentor and John began to hone his orchestral music writing skills under Gerry's guidance.  After Gerry's untimely death John formed Symphonic Pops together with Mike Campbell and Steve Robinson.  Together they have entertained audiences at the 96/7 and 97/8 Spier Summer Festivals.  In 1999 they combined forces with Radio KFM in presenting the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists at the Velodrome in the spectacular "KFM Symphonic Pops" concerts playing to thousands of people.  John's experience in the world of scoring Pops concerts combined with his quirky sense of musical humour (which features prominently in his interpretation of Arthur Sullivan's original score) has produced entertaining music that will appeal to all - even the G&S purists!