George Howell Guest CBE was responsible for taking the choir at St John's College, Cambridge, from the verge of extinction to an international reputation.
His father was a grocer and amateur organist and George began his choral career at Bangor Cathedral, moving on to Chester Cathedral when he was 11.
After wartime RAF service he was awarded an organ scholarship at St John's, Cambridge, becoming the organist and choirmaster in 1951 until his retirement in 1991.
Under his leadership the college choir school was saved from closure and then developed to become popular radio performers on radio and recording artists.
George Guest is widely credited with raising the standard of English choral music to new heights and he held numerous posts in church music organisations.
He also made regular appearances with Welsh choirs and adjudicated eisteddfod competitions, being made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 1977.
He chose the collected works of Welsh nationalist writer Saunders Lewis as his book when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.
He and his wife Nancy had two children. His autobiography, A Guest at Cambridge, was published in 1994.
Thanks to James Griffiths from Glasinfryn, Bangor, for suggesting this entry.
One of Britain's finest choral conductors.
