Owain Arwel Hughes
Encyclopedia
Owain Arwel Hughes CBE
(born 1942) is a Welsh
orchestral conductor. Among his numerous titles are Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, London's Philharmonia Orchestra
, Aalborg Symphony in Denmark and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales
and Principal Guest Conductor of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.
Hughes was born in Cardiff
, the son of another successful musician, composer Arwel Hughes
. He studied at University College, Cardiff
, and the Royal College of Music
. He studied conducting under Sir Adrian Boult
, Bernard Haitink
and Rudolf Kempe
.
He became well known after a rousing televised performance of William Walton
's Belshazzar’s Feast
, which won the praise of the composer himself. He later hosted a BBC
series, The Much-Loved Music Show. From 1980 to 1986, he was Associate Conductor of the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra
, and from 1994 to 1999 he was Principal Conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. He has also made numerous recordings, including works such as Verdi
's Requiem
and Handel
's Messiah
. He has championed less well-known composers, including recording a complete cycle of the symphonies of the Danish
composer Vagn Holmboe
. He is also the Artistic Director of the Welsh Proms
, which he founded in 1986, and has been Principal Conductor
and Music Director
of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales since 2003.
In 2004, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Hughes has also for many years been the Chairman of Governors at the John Lyon School
, in Harrow - one of the country's top independent day schools. A dedicated family man, Hughes has been married to his wife Jean for over 40 years. His son, Geraint is a familiar face to sports fans. He is a former Sports Correspondent for BBC News and currently works for Sky Sports.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1942) is a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
orchestral conductor. Among his numerous titles are Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, London's Philharmonia Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
, Aalborg Symphony in Denmark and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales
National Youth Orchestra of Wales
The National Youth Orchestra of Wales , founded in 1945, has the distinction of being the first national youth orchestra in the world and is Europe’s longest-standing national youth orchestra....
and Principal Guest Conductor of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.
Hughes was born in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, the son of another successful musician, composer Arwel Hughes
Arwel Hughes
Arwel Hughes OBE , was a Welsh orchestral conductor and composer.Hughes was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham and was educated at Ruabon Grammar School and at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams and C. H. Kitson...
. He studied at University College, Cardiff
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, and the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. He studied conducting under Sir Adrian Boult
Adrian Boult
Sir Adrian Cedric Boult CH was an English conductor. Brought up in a prosperous mercantile family he followed musical studies in England and at Leipzig, Germany, with early conducting work in London for the Royal Opera House and Sergei Diaghilev's ballet company. His first prominent post was...
, Bernard Haitink
Bernard Haitink
Bernard Johan Herman Haitink, CH, KBE is a Dutch conductor and violinist.- Early life :Haitink was born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam...
and Rudolf Kempe
Rudolf Kempe
Rudolf Kempe was a German conductor.- Biography :Kempe was born in Dresden, where from the age of fourteen he studied at the Dresden State Opera School. He played oboe in the opera orchestra of Dortmund and then in the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra, from 1929...
.
He became well known after a rousing televised performance of William Walton
William Walton
Sir William Turner Walton OM was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera...
's Belshazzar’s Feast
Belshazzar's Feast (Walton)
Belshazzar's Feast is an oratorio by the English composer William Walton. It was first performed at the Leeds Festival on 8 October 1931. The work has remained one of Walton's most celebrated compositions and one of the most popular works in the English choral repertoire...
, which won the praise of the composer himself. He later hosted a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series, The Much-Loved Music Show. From 1980 to 1986, he was Associate Conductor of the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
, and from 1994 to 1999 he was Principal Conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. He has also made numerous recordings, including works such as Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Requiem
Requiem (Verdi)
The Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, double choir and orchestra. It was composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist much admired by Verdi. The first performance in San Marco in Milan on 22 May...
and Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
. He has championed less well-known composers, including recording a complete cycle of the symphonies of the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
composer Vagn Holmboe
Vagn Holmboe
Vagn Gylding Holmboe was a Danish composer and teacher who wrote largely in a neo-classical style.-Life:At the age of 16, Holmboe began formal music training at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen on the recommendation of Carl Nielsen. He studied under Knud Jeppesen and Finn Høffding...
. He is also the Artistic Director of the Welsh Proms
Welsh Proms
The Welsh Proms take place at St David's Hall, Cardiff in July each year.The series usually consists of several orchestral concerts with the Welsh Proms Fringe running alongside, presenting jazz, folk, roots and chamber music....
, which he founded in 1986, and has been Principal Conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales since 2003.
In 2004, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Hughes has also for many years been the Chairman of Governors at the John Lyon School
John Lyon School
The John Lyon School is an academically selective independent boys' school in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex. The school was founded in 1876 by the Governors of Harrow School for the education of local boys, in belated keeping with the wishes of that school's founder, from whom the school takes its...
, in Harrow - one of the country's top independent day schools. A dedicated family man, Hughes has been married to his wife Jean for over 40 years. His son, Geraint is a familiar face to sports fans. He is a former Sports Correspondent for BBC News and currently works for Sky Sports.