John Mills studied at the Royal College of Music as a scholar under professor Rodney Friend, one of the great orchestra leaders.

As well as being one of the leaders of the Sinfonia of London, he works as a guest leader with groups including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra and others.
John is well known as a chamber musician and for 20 years has been the leader of the highly acclaimed Tippett Quartet, performing, and broadcasting across the UK and worldwide.

John is leader of the major studio orchestras with whom his work includes leading soundtrack sessions for The Batman, Jurassic World, Nightmare Alley, Mathilda, Disney’s Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins Returns, and Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder. He has worked closely with composers including Michael Giacchino, Marc Shaiman and Alan Menken. The Tippett Quartet is heavily featured on the soundtrack for the movie Knives Out and Glass Onion by director Rian Johnson.

John plays on a c.1720 violin by Francesco Goffriller of Venice.