Ruby Hughes

Ruby Hughes began her musical studies as a cellist graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in London. She went on to study singing at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Munich and was awarded a Royal Philharmonic Society Susan Chilcott award. She gained a full scholarship to study with Lillian Watson at the Royal College of Music, London, graduating in July 2009.

A BBC New Generation artist in 2011-2013, she held a Borletti Buitoni Trust award, was shortlisted for a 2014 Royal Philharmonic society Music award, and was winner of the first prize and audience prize at the 2009 London Handel competition.

She made her debut at Theater an der Wien 2009 as Roggiero Tancredi conducted by René Jacobs, returning as Fortuna L’Incoronazione di Poppea. She has sung major roles at the London Handel Festival, Buxton Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival, English National Opera, Garsington Opera, The Opera Group, Music Theatre Wales, Scottish Opera, as well as in Jonathan Miller’s production of St Matthew Passion at the National Theatre.

She has also appeared at the Edinburgh International Festival, the Festival Internacional de Musica Antigua in Madrid, Musicfestspiel Potsdam, the Schwetzinger SWR Festspiel and Opéra de Toulon. Further Festival appearances have included the BBC Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Symphony Orchestras, Cheltenham, Gent Ode Gand, Göttingen, Lockenhaus, Lucerne, Manchester International, Nurmberg, St Endellion and West Cork.

She has broadcast and recorded extensively and has sung under many leading conductors; she is also a keen recitalist working particularly closely with Joseph Middleton and Julius Drake.