John C. Hughes
John C. Hughes, D.M.A., is a Chicago-based conductor. He serves as Music Director of Chicago Master Singers and Director of Choral Programs at the Green Lake Festival of Music.
His programming spans major choral-orchestral works and intimate a cappella repertoire. Deeply committed to working with living composers, he has commissioned and premiered works by Francis Lynch, Shawn Okpebholo, Dale Trumbore, Reena Esmail, Elaine Hagenberg, and others. These collaborations—whether in concerts, festivals, or residencies—are a central part of his artistic life.
Teaching and mentorship are equally important to him. He founded Chicago Master Singers’ NextGen and Choral Scholars programs and created the Choral Conducting Apprenticeship at the Green Lake Festival of Music. He also works with young singers and emerging conductors through guest conducting, clinics, presentations, and private study.
Alongside his conducting, Hughes is active as a scholar and writer. He is the author of Letters to a Young Conductor: Thoughts on Music and Life and has contributed to Choral Repertoire by Women Composers. His work appears in journals including The Choral Journal, The Choral Scholar, and The Diapason and has prepared a scholarly edition of Leonhard Lechner’s 1593 Passion. He previously hosted the podcast Choir Chat.