Mary Ann Hughes is currently Orchestra Director and IB Music teacher at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach.  There are 3 orchestras at Princess Anne, as well as Celtic Crossings Fiddlers and Contradiction: PAHS’ Rock Orchestra.  She is also teaching 5^th Grade Strings at Birdneck Elementary and is providing Instructional Support for Independence Middle School Orchestra.  Mary Hughes is a VBCPS Career Teacher and a PAHS Distinguished Educator for 2007-08 and 2008-09.  As founder and co-director of MultiCelli, Mary Hughes also teaches private cello lessons.  She is a national workshop leader in music for the Middle Years Programme of International Baccalaureate.  She has served as conductor of various PAHS musical productions, as well as guest conductor, sectional coach, conference presenter and leader for professional development activities.  Mary Hughes holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in String Pedagogy from The Ohio State University.  She is a professional cellist, and has performed for Todi MusicFest, is past co-principal cellist of The Virginia Beach Symphony, and performs regularly with The Galliard Trio, The Encore String Quartet and The St. James String Quartet.