Mary Ann Hughes teaches 5th grade beginning strings and serves as the Orchestra Director at Princess

Anne High School (PAHS), in Virginia Beach, Virginia. During her 20-year career at PAHS, the program
has expanded from one to three orchestras, and the PAHS Chamber Orchestra is the top performing
orchestra in SE Virginia. Mrs. Hughes is the founder and director of MultiCelli and Strings on Fire. She
taught Summer Strings in Virginia Beach for 10 years and directed the first Summer Chamber Music
Institute in 2016.
Mrs. Hughes was one of three candidates selected to conduct the Bay Youth Concert Orchestra
performances for the 2016-17 season. She has conducted Regional and All-City events and served as
adjudicator for District Orchestra Assessments throughout SE Virginia.
Mrs. Hughes received National Board Teacher Certification in 2011. She has scored submissions for
National Board Teacher Certification, worked on revisions for National Board assessments and mentored
National Board candidates in Music.
Mrs. Hughes holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in String Pedagogy
from The Ohio State University. Mrs. Hughes attended the 2016 Summer Music Educators Workshop at
Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has also attended American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
National Conferences. She was the 2014-15 Virginia ASTAs Orchestra Director of the Year.
Mrs. Hughes is a professional cellist, currently principal cellist for Symphonicity, the symphony orchestra
of Virginia Beach. She also serves as cellist for various chamber groups. Mrs. Hughes has served as
adjunct cello professor at Otterbein and Kenyon colleges in Ohio. She teaches private cello lessons in
Virginia Beach.
Mrs. Hughes helped design the new secondary music curriculum for Virginia Beach Schools. Mrs.
Hughes was a national workshop leader for The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in
Music 2006-2013. She presents Professional Development sessions for Virginia Beach music teachers, as
well as cello and teaching workshops throughout the United States. She is a member of Music Educators
National Conference (MENC) and American String Teachers Association (ASTA). To contact her about
clinics, workshops and guest conducting, please e-mail Mrs. Hughes at mahughes@vbschools.com.