Mervyn Burtch was born in Ystrad Mynach in 1929, and studied music University College, Cardiff (as the University of Wales, Cardiff was then known). He has taught music all his life, first as a school teacher, then in 1979 joining the staff of the Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he took charge in 1994 of the Performance Course. His music has became more and more in demand over the years, but he continued part-time at the Welsh College until 1999, since when he has continued his very successful career as a composer.