Dr. Christopher Hughes, Professor of Conducting / Director of Bands College of Music, Mahidol University

Dr. Christopher Hughes is Professor of Conducting, Chair of the Conducting Faculty and Director of Bands for the College of Music at Mahidol University. In this capacity, Hughes conducts the critically acclaimed Mahidol Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds, guides the master's and doctoral programs in conducting, and administers all aspects of the university ensemble program. In addition to his university responsibilities, Hughes serves as a guest conductor for the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to this position, Hughes served on the faculties at Lander University in South Carolina and the University of Colorado.

Born on Bloomsday in Aspen, Colorado (USA), Hughes's interest in the beauty of music began early. He decided to pursue conducting as a profession while watching many of the great conductors who were in residence at the Aspen Music School. In 2005, Hughes was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting and literature at the University of Colorado where he was a student of world-renowned conductor Allan McMurray.

Hughes's ensembles have appeared in concert on four continents and conducting engagements have taken him to twelve U.S. States and nine foreign countries. In addition, he has guest conducted the ensembles at several colleges and universities. Known for his sensitive interpretation of music for large and small instrumental ensembles, Hughes's conducting has drawn praise from composers and conductors in the United States, Canada and Southeast Asia. A champion of new music, Dr. Hughes has conducted several world and regional premieres and he has become a conductor of choice for contemporary works.

Hughes served as Director of Bands at Lander University from 2005-2008. There, his duties included conducting the Lander Wind Ensemble and Lander Chamber Strings. In addition, he founded the Chamber Winds program while teaching courses in conducting. From 2002-2005 Hughes filled dual roles as an instructor and doctoral teaching fellow in the College of Music at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He served as guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. Many of Dr. Hughes's university students have gone on to earn prominent conducting positions while others have been awarded graduate assistantships at several universities.

Prior to his doctoral work, Hughes spent nearly a decade as a school conductor. Ensembles under his direction grew in both size and quality earning numerous honors and awards. Receiving international recognition, Hughes's ensembles were invited on a ground breaking, multinational tour that included the first performance of an American high school ensemble at Her Majesty's Royal Military Band Festival in Birmingham, England. The tour also included a performance in Ireland as invited guests of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Graduates of Dr. Hughes's school programs earned positions in college and university ensembles at twenty-seven separate institutions across the United States and many now hold degrees in music.

Dr. Hughes's research interests include conductor preparation and effectiveness, the application of the Alexander Technique to instrumental conducting, and contemporary literature for instrumental ensembles. Dr. Hughes has, on several occasions, been included in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers publication and, since 2003, has been listed in Who's Who in America. He was recently honored by being selected for the 2009 Who's Who In The World. Hughes's professional affiliations include College Band Directors National Association, International Trumpet Guild, Music Educators National Conference, the Conductor's Guild, National Band Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.