BIOGRAPHY

Elliott Hughes is a composer and trumpet player, who combines interests in jazz, new music (contemporary classical) and electroacoustic music.  He has had his music performed in New York, Canada, Hong Kong and around Australia, including by leading ensembles such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Bennetts Lane Big Band, and Syzygy Ensemble.

He released his debut recording in 2012 with his large ensemble Horizon Art Orchestra, a modified big band that specialises in presenting new (often challenging!) music.

As a performer he has shared the stage with Dafnis Prierto, John Hollenbeck, Theo Bleckmann, Fred Wesley, James Morrison, Graham Lyall and Ross Irwin, in a variety of small and large ensembles.

He completed study at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2006-09) and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (2011-12), and has been awarded a variety of prizes, grants and scholarships for his music.

Composer website:  www.elliotthughesmusic.com

FEATURED WORKS

Dust and a Strong Economy, for clarinets and percussion.

Performed by Vicente Alexim (Clarinets) and Andy Miller (Percussion)
Recorded by Anna Meadors at the Atlantic Music Festival 2014.

Featured in Playlist 1: Chamber Waves (31/1/15)

Dry Submerged – Windswept Still, for trombone choir.

This piece reflects on the cyclical and often extreme nature of the our climate, following in the footsteps of many great Australian composers. Each of the four sections begins with a sense of curiosity before growing into something far more powerful, unpredictable or uncontrollable.

Featured in Minimalist Waves October 2016

For Greener Grass, Movements I & II for large jazz ensemble.

This piece attempts to combine a wide range of instrumental techniques alongside driving rhythms and angular melodic ideas. The inclusion of french horn & bass clarinet in this reduced big band gives the ensemble a different colour to more traditional instrumentations. The longer piece is five movements, and was commissioned by the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2014.

Featured in Jazz-World Waves – November 2017