Bret Hughes is a graduate student at the University of Utah’s School of Music, pursuing his Masters of Music in Percussion Performance. His current teaching assignment includes the Undergraduate Percussion Pedagogy course at the University. Hughes received his Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Wyoming in 2008. As a performer, Hughes served as Principle Percussionist for the Utah Wind Symphony including a performance at the 2014 Midwest Clinic under the direction of Scott Hagen. Since 2016, he has performed as a Section Percussionist with the Salt Lake Symphony. Hughes is a versatile performer within the symphonic arts and musical theater areas, and is a freelance performer with various ensembles in the Salt Lake area including the Utah Symphony under the direction of Thierry Fischer. His recording credits include The Music of David Maslanka, Vol. 3 (2016) with the Utah Wind Symphony and the SEC/ESPN Networks College Fight Songs Project (2014).
Committed to serving the percussion and music education communities on a larger scale, Bret Hughes is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and has held the position of Treasurer for the Utah Chapter of PAS since 2014. Hughes is also a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Utah Music Educators Association (UMEA), and the Utah and National Bandmasters Association (UBA and NBA). Bret Hughes is also a formally published percussion instructor – his article focusing on innovative percussion curriculum was featured in a 2015 edition of Utah Music Educators Journal. He is also a recognized presenter and has appeared at the 2013 Utah Trade Secrets Conference on the importance of comprehensive percussion curriculum, as well as the Utah PAS Day of Percussion, discussing the importance of percussion maintenance in 2014. Hughes was also a guest conductor for the South Big Horn District Honor Band in 2016. Hughes was recognized by School Band and Orchestra magazine’s ‘50 Directors Who Make a Difference’ in 2014.
Beginning in 2008, Hughes was assigned to be the Director of the Percussion in the Park City School District. During his tenure, his groups have had continued success by receiving consistent Superior Ratings at Region and State-Level Solo/Ensemble Festivals, being the top scoring instrumental ensemble at 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2016 Heritage Worldstrides Performance Festivals, and being selected to perform at many region, state, and national-level events including: the 2015 Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival (Music for All), performances at conventions of the National School Boards Association, the Utah School Boards Association, and the Utah Music Educators Association. The Park City Percussion Program has been named the large ensemble state champions at the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, and presented Showcase Concerts at the 2015 and 2017 Utah PAS Day of Percussion. In 2016, the Marching Band appeared at the 75th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii and in 2019, will appear at the 75th Anniversary D-Day Memorial Parade in Normandy, France.
Bret Hughes is an educator and performer for the Innovative Percussion Corporation.