John Cole began his composition studies at the University of Victoria studying under Michael Longton, John W. Mackay and Rudolf Komorous. In 1993 he completed a Masters of Fine Arts at Simon Fraser University’s School for Contemporary Arts. In 1999 he received a two-year Monbusho government scholarship to continue his music studies with Jo Kondo at Elizabeth University of Music in Hiroshima.  In 2001 he formed “Ensemble Sonore” a group focusing on the performance of contemporary and early music.  He received a two-year Rotary scholarship to facilitate the completion of his Doctor of Music in 2006, writing his dissertation on the music of Jo Kondo.  He currently teaches music history, composition and directs a class in contemporary music performance at Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima.