“Brian Hughes is considered to be one of the most important choral composers living in Wales today.
The highly charged rhythmic energy of his music coupled with his knowledge of vocal technique produces a fresh, contemporary style that is both challenging and stimulating for audiences and performers.”
He first came to prominence as conductor of the Alun School Singers and the Cynwrig Singers,
both choirs performing regularly on radio and television following on from much competitive success. Thereafter he spent twenty-five years at the RNCM Manchester as Chorus Master and Head of Opera Music Staff, during which time the college chorus was acclaimed consistently for achieving the highest professional standards. At Cardiff University he studied piano with Patrick Piggot and has served as accompanist in master classes with Joan Hammond, Joan Sutherland and Sherrill Milnes, and on CD’s with many leading Welsh singers.
He has worked with the Buxton International Festival Chorus, the Cheltenham Festival Chorus, European Opera Chorus, Göthenburg Opera, Clonter Farm Opera and the Brisbane Conservatoire. In 2010 he was awarded the John Edwards Memorial Prize for his contribution to music, and in 2021 received the Joseph Parry Prize and a Fellowship from Glyndwr University. During the pandemic, he concentrated on solo song repertoire resulting in a number of song cycles, including “Pray for us, Dewi” which was premiered in St. Asaph cathedral in 2022.
He has been a regular adjudicator at the Royal national Eisteddfod of Wales and The International Musical Eisteddfod at Llangollen. He is a specialist vocal consultant and loves all things to do with singing.
