Award-winning vocalist Sarah Ellen Hughes has established herself as a notable presence on the London jazz scene and beyond.

Sarah began her career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), with whom she was lead vocalist from 2005-2008. Since then she has earned many accolades including winning the 2010 International Jazz Singing Competition, “Jazz Voices,” held in Lithuania.  Sarah was also selected as a semi-finalist in the 2011 Montreux Jazz singing competition, where she was lucky enough to perfom in front of Quincy Jones.  Qunicy himself said "great singing girl... keep doing what you're doing."

Championed by distinguished vocalists Claire Martin and Ian Shaw, Sarah’s first album “Darning the Dream” was released in 2010, to critical acclaim. The recording features some of the UK’s finest musicians including Jim Hart and Dave O’Higgins, plus two duets with Ian Shaw. It was selected as UK Jazz Radio’s “CD of the month” for a record three months running in early 2010.

Following the success of her debut CD, Sarah released a second album in September 2011, which was supported by a 31-date Jazz Services UK tour.  This recording is a collection of Sarah’s arrangements of jazz and pop standards, as well as her own compositions, and features a new collaboration with saxophonist Dave O'Higgins.

Sarah began singing at a young age, but the basis of her musical skill came from learning the flute and piano through her teenage years.  She achieved highly on these while still at school, but it was joining a jazz orchestra on flute (by accident really - trying to kill time while waiting for a driving lesson!) that really turned her head to the style of music that would become her passion.  Sarah decided that singing would be the way forward, rather than flute, although she was pleased to occupy the flute chair in NYJO sporadically during 2007/8.

Sarah has featured as the vocalist for 2 military big bands: RAF Shades of Blue Orchestra, and the Queen's Division Big Band (Minden Band), with whom she recorded an album in 2007 (to listen, visit MUSIC page; to buy, visit DISCOGRAPHY page).

As well as running her own quartet, Sarah also has set up her own big band: The Sarah Ellen Hughes Big Band, featuring an all-star line-up.

Sarah has appeared at many of the UK’s top jazz venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza on the Park (where she held a residency for 8 months), 606 Club, Scarborough Jazz Club, and Marlborough Jazz Festival. In 2010, she was invited to participate in the London Jazz Festival “Vocal Summit,” where she was selected by Paul Pace -jazz programmer at Ronnie Scott’s - as one of three singers “whom I consider to be the best on the scene in terms of the vocal art, individuality, and the ability to move and entertain the audience.”

Sarah is a writer for the popular website LondonJazz – London’s leading blog on the ins and outs of the city’s scene.  It was nominated this year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards for best jazz publication.  See www.londonjazz.blogspot.com.

She also writes her own witty and interesting blog - an insight into the world of a jazz singer: www.sarahellenhughes.blogspot.com

Sarah has considerable studio and session experience, having recorded numerous soundtracks with the Daniel Pemberton Television Orchestra, as well as recent projects with Trystan Jode and Ruben Vine.  On the MUSIC page, you will find clips of Sarah's studio work.

 Sarah first moved to London as a primary school teacher, and still spends time teaching music in South East London. She graduated from St Martin's College in Lancaster in 2005, and while studying there discovered the North West jazz scene. She still visits the North West, performing at venues in Manchester, Wrea Green, Morecambe and Blackpool.

As well as performing with her jazz quartet, Sarah runs a party band called SEH Soul, information about which can be found by clicking the relevant tab above. You can also visit SEH Soul on MySpace.