ADRIAN BEAUMONT was born in Huddersfield in 1937. He studied music at University College, Cardiff, graduating in 1958 with First Class Honours and going on to take a Master's in 1961 and a Doctorate in 1972.

He was appointed to the staff of the Music Department of Bristol University in 1961, becoming Senior Lecturer in 1978 and Reader in Composition in 1994. He conducted Bristol Opera for three years until becoming the first conductor of Bristol Bach Choir in 1967, a position he held until 1978. Thereafter he regularly conducted the University's Symphony Orchestra and Choral Society, as well as the New Music Ensemble which he founded in 1981.

He retired in 2002, but continued with part-time teaching of composition for the following two years.