Michael Short was born in Bermuda and educated in England at Gillinham Grammar School and Bristol University. He then studied music at Morley College and London University, and won a Mendelssohn Scholarship which enabled him to study composition in Italy with Goffredo Petrassi and in London with Sir Lennox Berkeley. His works include choral, orchestral, vocal and instrumental music, and he has also made a special study of the life and work of Gustav Holst. He is a Fellow in Composition of Trinity College, London.