ABOUT ME
"MJ Hughes is a Kentucky-born singer, pianist, and theater performer. MJ completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano and Vocal Music Education at Western Kentucky University and then worked as a resident music director and private studio teacher in Kentucky where she continued her studies in Voice Pedagogy under Dr. Amelia Rollings Bigler. After completing two years as a dueling and solo piano bar singer for Holland America Cruise Line, MJ returned to New York City where she works currently as a theater performer, private voice and piano teacher, music director, accompanist, composer, writer, comedienne, and singing piano bar entertainer. MJ teaches for a variety of music programs in the city including Marymount School of New York and Education Through Music and is thrilled to be adding Broadway Weekends to that list later this summer.
My Life in Music
PRIVATE LESSONS
Book MJ For Private Piano or Voice Lessons
MJ has been a private piano and voice teacher for nearly a decade. After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Music in Piano and Music Education with an emphasis in Vocal Music Education and Choral Conducting, MJ went on to be a Resident Music Director and Private Lessons Teacher at her local community theater in Kentucky where she continued her study of vocal pedagogy under Dr. Amelia Rollings Bigler. She has since built her own studio and teaches students of all ages all over the country. MJ's students have gone on to gain entry into Kentucky's most elite music programs as well as some of the nation's top musical theater conservatories.
Student Success
"MJ was my first voice teacher and my introduction to the world of Musical Theater singing. Her foundation of great training, technique, and talent inspired me daily to grow and try new things. She challenged me every day to become a better performer and person through kindness and compassion, and she showed me what a voice teacher should be. With her help and her teachings, I got into Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts which led me to Emory and Henry College where I am studying Musical Theater."
- Aubin Jefferson
Aubin's recent credits include Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins and Young Violet in Violet at Emory and Henry and the ensemble of Footloose at the Barter Theater where she earned her first professional theater credits.
"MJ is a motivating teacher who balances productive criticism with uplifting encouragement. She gives substantial agency to her students, allowing them to focus on genres and pieces that suit their musical interests. My piano abilities and knowledge of music theory greatly improved because of my lessons with MJ!"
-Clay Wallace, Piano Student
Book MJ for Your Next Event
Piano Bar Singer, Vocalist
MJ Hughes began her journey with piano bar working for two years on a luxury cruise line where she worked as both a dueling piano bar singer and solo piano bar singer. With upwards of 30 shows a week, MJ spent her evenings sailing the world and playing hundreds of everyone's favorite tunes- with her personal favorite musical decade being the 70's. With her extensive music repertoire and humor, this comedienne creates piano bar shows that leave you smiling and most certainly with a tune or two stuck in your head. MJ currently books weddings, piano bars, and private events around New York City as both a dueling and solo piano bar entertainer.
