James Whitbourn (1963 – 2024) was a British composer, conductor, and producer whose music is acclaimed for its lyrical immediacy, spiritual depth, and distinctive blend of classical and contemporary styles. A graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford, he has written extensively for choir, orchestra, and soloists, with works frequently inspired by themes of faith, history, and human experience. His compositions, such as Annelies – the first major choral work based on the diary of Anne Frank – have been performed and recorded internationally. Alongside his compositional career, Whitbourn worked as a conductor and producer for the BBC and taught at the University of Oxford and other institutions, establishing himself as a significant voice in 21st-century choral and vocal music.