More about Richard Hughey
Cellist and conductor Richard Hughey had his first experience conducting his local youth symphony at the age of 15. He completed a Bachelor of Music cum laude at Utah State University with a major in Cello Performance and a minor in German. At the University of Utah, he completed a Master of Music degree magna cum laude, with a double major in Cello Performance and Orchestral Conducting. He then went on to the University of Arizona where he completed the Doctor of Musical Arts in Cello Performance and a minor in Orchestral Conducting.
Following a year teaching at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, Dr. Hughey was named Assistant Conductor and Assistant Principal Cellist with the Omaha Symphony. In Omaha, he also served as Principal Cellist and orchestra manager for Opera Omaha. During the summer of 1981, he had the opportunity to study conducting at the Aspen Music Festival under Murry Sidlin. From Nebraska, he moved to North Carolina where he served eight years as Music Director and Conductor of the Western Piedmont Symphony.
In 1990, Dr. Hughey moved to Germany and became Music Director of the Lausitzer Konzertorchester. In 1992, he was invited to become the artistic director and conductor of the Universitätsorchester at the Technische Universität Dresden.
While there, he organized a new chamber orchestra which quickly developed into the TU-Kammerphilharmonie Dresden and was recognized by the press as one of the finest orchestral ensembles of the city. He also instigated the Lausitzer Opernsommer near Cottbus, in the province of Brandenburg, situated between Berlin and Dresden. There he performed lesser-known operas of the composers Cavalli, Keiser, Haydn, Grétry and Mozart.
From 2007 to 2020, Dr. Hughey served as Director of Orchestral Activities at Western Illinois University, where he taught conducting, was the mentor of the Presidents International String Quartet and was also the musical director of the WIU Opera Theatre. He also played cello regularly in the Peoria (Illinois) Symphony.
Following retirement from Western Illinois University, Dr. Hughey relocated to Cedar Rapids, where he has become involved in the musical community of Eastern Iowa. He plays cello in the Southeast Iowa Symphony and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. He is also Principal Cellist of the Iowa City Community String Orchestra.
Following a year teaching at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, Dr. Hughey was named Assistant Conductor and Assistant Principal Cellist with the Omaha Symphony. In Omaha, he also served as Principal Cellist and orchestra manager for Opera Omaha. During the summer of 1981, he had the opportunity to study conducting at the Aspen Music Festival under Murry Sidlin. From Nebraska, he moved to North Carolina where he served eight years as Music Director and Conductor of the Western Piedmont Symphony.
In 1990, Dr. Hughey moved to Germany and became Music Director of the Lausitzer Konzertorchester. In 1992, he was invited to become the artistic director and conductor of the Universitätsorchester at the Technische Universität Dresden.
While there, he organized a new chamber orchestra which quickly developed into the TU-Kammerphilharmonie Dresden and was recognized by the press as one of the finest orchestral ensembles of the city. He also instigated the Lausitzer Opernsommer near Cottbus, in the province of Brandenburg, situated between Berlin and Dresden. There he performed lesser-known operas of the composers Cavalli, Keiser, Haydn, Grétry and Mozart.
From 2007 to 2020, Dr. Hughey served as Director of Orchestral Activities at Western Illinois University, where he taught conducting, was the mentor of the Presidents International String Quartet and was also the musical director of the WIU Opera Theatre. He also played cello regularly in the Peoria (Illinois) Symphony.
Following retirement from Western Illinois University, Dr. Hughey relocated to Cedar Rapids, where he has become involved in the musical community of Eastern Iowa. He plays cello in the Southeast Iowa Symphony and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. He is also Principal Cellist of the Iowa City Community String Orchestra.