Owain Arwel Hughes CBE
Nominated for Culture award
Owain Arwel Hughes has been chosen as a Finalist for the St David Award for Culture for his exceptional service to the world of music in Wales and further afield.
He is a world famous orchestral conductor who has worked with many celebrated orchestras around the world including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and orchestras in Denmark and South Africa. He founded his own ensemble, Camerata Wales, in 2005 featuring musicians from Wales.
He also founded the Welsh Proms in 1986, and the event celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015. In 2014, he stepped in as guarantor of the event when local government financial support for the event was reduced. He promised to cover any shortfall in ticket sales for some concerts so that the event could go-ahead.
Owain was appointed Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 2003, a post which he held for 8 years.