Born as the tenth child of a harpsichordist father, he received instruction from his father from the age of six. At the age of nine, he began studying under Bartolomeo Felici and Alessandro Felici (father and son) and started composing. After the death of the Felicis, he studied under Bizzarri and Castrucci. His early works were in the Palestrina style, but later, after studying counterpoint with Sarti in Venice, his compositions evolved into works in the old Italian contrapuntal style.

From the age of 20, he also composed operas, and when one was performed in London, it caught the attention of the Prince of Wales, leading him to serve as Royal Composer for one year. Subsequently, he moved to Paris and became the director of the Paris Conservatoire, which was founded in 1795.

Although he received commissions for compositions from the Vienna Court Opera and Napoleon, he did not get along well with Napoleon, and in his later years, he shifted the focus of his composition back to sacred music.

In 1948, the Cherubini Society was established in London, with Willem Mengelberg as its president.