Born in Basel in 1931, Rudolf Kelterborn remains one of the most influential composers, conductors, teachers and music journalists of the present day. After completing his studies in Basel and Salzburg, he participated in the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music from 1955 to 1960. In association with Heinz Holliger and Jürg Wyttenbach, he launched the Basel Music Forum in 1987.

He has taught music theory, analysis and composition at music academies in Switzerland and abroad, mentoring Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini among others, and published many theoretical and analytical writings. In the ‘70s, he was the head of the music magazine and music department of Radio DRS (now SRF). Rudolf Kelterborn's compositions span all musical genres and he has been awarded numerous prizes. He continued making regular appearances as guest conductor, performing mainly his own works, until 1996.