Hugh Morris

Hugh is a Class of 2019 MusB graduate.

What are you up to these days?

Since graduating in July 2019, I have been establishing a freelance career in Manchester across a variety of disciplines. At the moment, I'm most active as a composer and a writer, although I also perform and teach regularly. I have recently written music for Devon Philharmonic Orchestra, No Dice Collective, Ludlow English Song Weekend and Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera, and I write about music for Jazzwise, VAN Magazine, Bachtrack and The Sampler (Sound and Music). Most recently, I've accepted a job as a Music Supervisor for audio branding company PHMG.

What do you find exciting about it and what have been the challenges? 

The most exciting (and slightly terrifying!) thing is that there are very few predetermined routes, meaning you have a lot of freedom to try lots of different things and see what you enjoy. I've been pleasantly surprised at how things have panned out. I couldn't have foreseen some of the opportunities I have been offered in recent months, and the unpredictability of this is one of the main challenges after University. Having a plan during your degree and figuring it all out afterwards are two very different things. But I'm proud of the fact that I have pieced together a career where my income is solely derived from music.

How does it relate to your time as a student in the music department?

My time at Manchester equipped me with the skills, knowledge and community to foster an invaluable appreciation of music and education, while also delivering ample opportunities to forge my own creative career.

I've always had an interest in writing, but the Musicology department really pushed me to write in a consistent, clear and concise way, from a 1,800-word essay on Nietzsche right through to my 12,000-word dissertation on Robert Glasper. I began writing about music during my degree and now I'm picking up writing gigs using these skills.

What is your fondest memory of your time as a student here?

I have so many fond memories. Two performances with the Music Society stand out – conducting Ravel's opera L'enfant et les Sortileges and conducting the University Brass Band on tour in Edinburgh. But above all, sharing graduation with my closest friends was a feeling that will stay with me for a long time.