Jon Halton studied piano, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon and music theory in Belfast, and then read music at King's College, Cambridge University. During these years he set up and arranged music for saxophone quartets. He subsequently obtained a Ph.D. degree in music theory and analysis, and stayed on in Cambridge to build up a busy career as a musician: as instrumental and theory tutor, as music notation and preparation service, and as performer: on clarinet and baritone sax with Simply Reeds, and as a freelance piano accompanist, jazz pianist and bass player. He teaches at the Perse School and King's College School, Cambridge.

He was written music for Faber, IMP/Warner Chappell and Music Sales, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO - Stanza Music), the National Saxophone Choir, the Perse Schools in Cambridge, the Elgar Society, the Cambridge Youth Wind Orchestra, Oakham School, and many saxophone and clarinet ensembles and symphonic wind bands across the U.K. His composition "Ankara" is currently listed on the Associated Board's Grade 4 flute syllabus. Jon composes and arranges mainly for sax and clarinet ensembles and for symphonic wind bands, but he has also composed music for choir and for symphony orchestra, and has orchestrated music for film and television. His Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra (opus 29) was premiered in 2008 in Cambridge by Simply Reeds and the K.239 orchestra.