about

Daniel Hughes is a multidisciplinary artist and craftsman — classical pianist and choral musician, photographer, timber framer, writer — native to the pacific northwest and now making a home in the mountain west. It has always been his belief life is better lived in good company with good chocolate, outside, barefoot and in the mountains; and that the whole of life & the art of living should be cross-informed by every endeavor and pursuit we undertake. His search across disciplines is in bringing voice to the quiet, honest vitality of life in a manner gentle, bold, and fiercely free.

An internationally acclaimed pianist, Daniel won first prize and the audience favorite award at the 2021 Glory International Piano Competition, first prize at the 2020 Sound Espressivo International Competition, and top honors at the Oregon Petri, Lillian Pettibone, and Maude Sardam Collaborative scholarship competitions, as well as the collaborative division of the Oregon MTNA competition. Among his collaborators are singers from the Metropolitan Opera, Grammy Award–winning artists, top Billboard performers, and distinguished international soloists, including Robert McPherson, Damien Geter, Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini, and Alexander Shonert. He has also appeared as soloist with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony and toured throughout the Americas and Europe, performing in major venues such as the Teatro Colón and the Arlene Schnitzer concert hall. Highly regarded in masterclasses with Tamara Stefanovich, Andrew Brownell, Arnaldo Cohen, and the Takács Quartet, Daniel is also an active chamber and collaborative musician with emphasis in the vocal, flute, and cello repertoires. He is a student of Irene Peery-Fox and previously studied on scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music with the late Phillip Kawin, after beginning his university studies at Portland State University with Julia Hwakyu Lee; he has also studied with Heasook Rhee, Jonathan Klibonoff, Scott Rednour, Lisa Marsh, Chuck Dillard, Velma Schludermann, Geneva Wright, and his dear ma Corina Hughes who was his first teacher.

An experienced choral singer, Daniel was a member of the Portland State Chamber Choir when their album The Doors of Heaven took #1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart, remained on the list for nine consecutive weeks and was in strong contention for Grammy nomination. The choir was named by Classics Today as being “amongst the finest choirs in the world.” Daniel studied choral conducting at the graduate level under Ethan Sperry, director of the Chamber Choir.

Other pursuits informing his work include extensive experience in the outdoors and as an active member of his local county search & rescue backcountry rescue unit; a two year term as vice chair of the board of directors for Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (SOLE), whose Snow School program is an industry leader in providing underprivileged youth with science-based, hands-on learning experiences in the winter outdoors; formation ballroom dance which included several first place wins at the Gem State Classic National Showdance Championship; and many years of musical theatre including lead roles in Footloose, Anything Goes and The Drowsy Chaperone.

critical acclaim as pianist:

“a pianist of striking sensitivity and sterling musical intelligence . . . considerable technical skill . . . and a bold, mature and individual musical voice.” (Marc Silverman)

“[possesses] a deeply moving sense of musical style” (Peter Sanders)

“a master of deep philosophical interpretation” (Galina Ivannikova)

“an exceptionally expressive, creative and imaginative pianist” (Joanne Polk)

“truly, a remarkable artist” (Anna Ouspenskaya)

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