Daniel Hughes

Daniel Hughes is in constant demand as a conductor, accompanist, coach, and choral clinician. He serves as the Artistic Director & Conductor of The Choral Project — an internationally award-winning mixed-voice ensemble specializing in dramatic, conceptual performance of high-level choral music from the medieval period to the contemporary, as well as ethnic and multicultural repertoire. The choir’s vision is “to transform and heal through music and words,” and their mission is “to connect to one another through choral theater, education and musical excellence.” Under his direction The Choral Project has received worldwide recognition, performing to standing ovation crowds in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Wales, and Spain. The ensemble has also received top prizes in international competitions throughout the world. They have recorded nine compact discs available through iTunes, Amazon.com, and CDBaby.

Hughes has directed many sessions in Vocal Pedagogy and Conducting Technique for the American Choral Directors Association, the American Guild of Organists, the California Music Educators’ Association, and GALA Choruses. He has been a regular adjudicator for the California Golden State Choral Competitions, and has conducted honor choirs and festival choruses throughout the west coast. Collaborations include international performances with well-known ensembles such as renown mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, The King’s Singers, Canadian Brass, Lisa Vroman, Costa Rica’s Café Chorale, The Australian Voices, the critically-acclaimed San José Chamber Orchestra, and creative work with award-winning Broadway composer & lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Hughes’s concert appearances include performances at Lincoln Center (New York City), Caulkins Opera House (Denver), Gusman Concert Hall (Miami), and Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco). He has also conducted world premiere compositions by many respected composers, including Stephen Schwartz, Nico Muhly, Brent Heisinger, Brian Holmes, Mac Huff, Theodore Lucas, Richard Burchard, Eric William Barnum, and Joshua Shank.

Hughes began studying piano and composition at the age of four. He has extensive training in piano and voice, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Conducting. In addition to the accolades he has earned with The Choral Project, he has been awarded 4th place (Small Ensemble Category) at the 35th International Choral Competition, Gorizia, Italy; the 2nd place award (ACDA National Student Conducting Competition); the Christina Cadena Memorial Accompanying Scholarship; and the California Arts Scholar Awards for piano and composition. He is also a recipient of Arts Council Silicon Valley’s 2013 Artist’s Laureate Award (“On Stage” category), The American Prize Award for Choral Direction, and a 2010 Silicon Valley Arts & Business Award for 20+ years of excellence in the arts in the San Francisco Bay Area. An accomplished composer and arranger with a catalogue of nearly 100 works, he has been a 2015 and a 2016 finalist in The American Prize Competition for Choral Composition. His works are published through Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Gentry Publications, National Music Publishing, and earthsongs, ArrangeMe.com, and MusicSpoke.com. Mr. Hughes’s biography is featured in Who’s Who in America. He also teaches voice and conducting privately in his Bay Area music studio.