Jon Barton was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music: organ with Matthew Owens and Kevin Bowyer, piano with Paul Janes and Stephen Reynolds, and harpsichord with David Francis. Whilst at the RNCM he won the Organ Recital Prize, and was granted The Pilling Trust Scholarship to continue his studies abroad, and being keenly interested in 20th Century Music, took the opportunity to study with Zsigmond Szathmary, Bernhard Haas, and Yanka Hekimova.

He is Diocesan Director of Music for the Shrewsbury Diocese, and Director of Music at the Cathedral. In addition to this he also performs as a freelance musician, and is often heard in concert and on the radio.  He is the regular accompanist for the Birkenhead and Formby Choral societies, and Amadeus (The Chamber Choir).  He also plays for concerts and functions at Liverpool Hope University.