Cellist Benjamin Hughes Appointed to Faculty at University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music

Hughes will begin teaching students at the opening of the 2025/26 academic year

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) announced that British cellist Benjamin Hughes will join its string faculty as an Associate Professor of Cello. He will begin his time in the post at the opening of the 2025/26 academic year.

Hughes spent eighteen years as the Principal Cello of the BBC Concert Orchestra, during which time he appeared frequently as both soloist and collaborator for broadcasts on BBC Radio and Television.

He is highly sought-after as a Guest Principal and has appeared in this capacity with the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony and Scottish Symphony Orchestras, and the Royal Ballet and Opera — as well as further afield in the symphony orchestras of Vancouver and Sydney.

As a chamber musician, he has been a member of the Fibonacci Sequence and the London Mozart Trio, in which capacity he appeared at London’s Wigmore Hall, King’s Place, Conway Hall, and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, Australia.

An experienced pedagogue, Hughes has taught at London's Royal Academy of Music since 2016, having been named an Associate of the Academy (ARAM) one year prior. He is also presently on faculty at the Brevard Music Center, and is an Honorary Member of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2005.

"Benjamin Hughes is a dynamic performer and teacher, bringing a wealth of experience from his distinguished work with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Royal Academy of Music in London," said Pete Jutras, CCM Dean. "We are excited to have him joining our prestigious Strings Department."

"I am grateful to our search committee chair Rachel Calin and committee members Mark Gibson and Nick Photinos for their efforts with this successful search."