Donald Hunt was born at Gloucester, where he became a cathedral chorister and an articled pupil of the cathedral organist, conductor and composer, Dr Herbert Sumsion, to whom he became assistant organist at the age of seventeen.

After a short spell in Torquay, Donald Hunt was appointed director of music at the renowned Parish Church of Leeds and, while in Yorkshire, became conductor and choir trainer of several notable choirs such as the Leeds Philharmonic, the Leeds Festival Chorus and the Halifax Choral Society. For his work in Yorkshire – he was also Leeds City Organist and an academic lecturer at the Leeds College of Music – he received a doctorate in music from the University of Leeds. Dr Hunt was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Worcester Cathedral in January 1976, a post he held until August 1996, during which time he was artistic director and conductor of eight Three Choirs Festivals. He has also enjoyed a long and happy association with the Bromsgrove Festival.

During his career Donald Hunt has made many commercial recordings with his various choirs, and as organ recitalist, has broadcast regularly and appeared on television.

His work has taken him all over Europe, as well as to the United States and Canada and more recently he has been a regular visitor to South Africa, where he has worked as guest conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonia on numerous occasions.

Since leaving his post at the Cathedral, Dr Hunt has pursued an active career as conductor, lecturer, composer and teacher. He has written several books, the most recent being Elgar and the Three Choirs Festival and much of his choral and organ music has been published, including his most extended work, Hymnus Paschalis. He is currently Music Advisor to the Elgar School of Music in Worcester, where he is also responsible for the activities of the Elgar Chorale. He master-minded, and was artistic director and conductor of the 2007 Elgar 150th anniversary festival in Worcester, and is much in demand for lectures and concerts devoted to the composer. Donald Hunt was appointed OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 1993.