Born in 1927 in South Hurstville, Sydney, Hugh moved to New Zealand in 1940 and except for a short period between 1977 and 1979 when he taught music in several Sydney high schools, lived in New Zealand. Hugh obtained his MMus (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1968, studied science and music at Victoria University of Wellington, and music at Canterbury University of Christchurch, before moving to Auckland where he lived most of his life. He was awarded an L.R.S.M. in 1958 and F.T.C.L. in 1975 on trumpet and obtained a Diploma of Teaching from Wellington Teachers' College in 1950. His career has spanned a wide range of music teaching, specialising particularly brass instruments. He also embraced teaching general science in secondary schools. For a period of eighteen years, he taught brass instruments and music theory privately. For seven years, Hugh was trumpet player in The Symphonia of Auckland (now Auckland Philharmonia). His considerable conducting experience included twenty years with the National Secondary Schools Orchestral Holiday Courses. Hugh was the founder and conductor of the Auckland Youth Symphonic Band from 1967–1977: its senior group is now called the Auckland Wind Orchestra. He was also the founder and conductor of the Phoenix Wind Ensemble from 1982 to 1987, which was later renamed Auckland Concert Band but no longer exists. He was the conductor of the wind ensembles at the Cambridge Music Schools from 1982 to 1984, and in 1982 he conducted Handel's Messiah for the South Auckland Choral Society and Orchestra. He conducted a season of thirty-one performances of The Mikado at the Mercury Theatre in Auckland in 1987, and the St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra summer concerts between 1987 and 1989. Between 1982 and 1987 he conducted and organised numerous chamber music concerts. Hugh has had several works recorded and broadcast, including Nocturnes for Soprano and Horn (1982), Songs of Mystic Jade (the original 1984 cycle before revision), Five Shakespeare Songs (1986), Mosaic for Wind Octet (ABC, 1990), and Canto Fermo 2001 (ABC, 2001).
Horn Ensemble Works
Dream Odyssey | Dream Odyssey I. Prelude and Song II. Fanfare and Jubilant Dance | 1997 | 4 horns (or three horns and trombone) |