In a career spanning 40 years, Owain Arwel Hughes has conducted and recorded many of the world's leading orchestras including, as Principal Associate Conductor, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In November 2007, he became Principal Guest Conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he recently conducted and recorded the world premiere of Schnittke's monumental choral work, Nagasaki. As Founder and Artistic Director, Owain Arwel Hughes is the driving force behind the success of the Cardiff Welsh Proms. Inaugurated in 1986, it has become one of the major UK music festivals attracting orchestras and leading artists from around the world. Committed to the highest level of music education for young people Owain Arwel Hughes accepted the position of Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 2003, the oldest such youth orchestra in the world.