John Drummond was born in Lancaster in 1944. In 1976 John Drummond accepted the post of Blair Professor of Music at the University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ. Despite administrative and teaching duties he has found time to work actively in opera, directing an annual department production, teaching in summer schools, and working with local opera groups. His productions include the first NZ performances of operas by Handel, Cavalli and Haydn, as well as medieval music-dramas, opera buffo and musicals. He has also been involved, as a composer and performer, in several multi-media theatre productions in Dunedin, as well as revues, charity shows and university television work.