[1] His mother was a trained soprano and a voice teacher, and his father was a buildings and grounds manager at the Music Academy of the West.

[2] Since then he began his career in Europe as a member of the Sächsische Staatsoper in Dresden,[3] appearing on stage at Opernhaus Zürich,[4] Metropolitan Opera, Komische Oper Berlin,[5] Staatsoper Hamburg,[6] Teatro Massimo,[7] the Dutch National Opera[8] and at the Festival d'Aix-En-Provence.

[12] As a committed interpreter of modern music, Hughes has focused particularly on the works of Elliott Carter and Matthias Pintscher.

He has premiered two roles in the operas by the composer George Benjamin: "the Protector" in Written on Skin in Elbphilharmonie Hamburg[13] and the Berlin Philharmonic, as well as "the King" in Lessons in Love and Violence[14] with the conductor Kent Nagano.

He premiered Carter’s last vocal works including performances with James Levine and the Met Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall and at the Tanglewood music festival.