Dominic McHugh was born and educated in Lancashire. He has had a passionate interest in both opera and the Broadway musical from an early age, as well as being an active pianist, taking his Advanced Diploma in Performance (DipABRSM) at 18.
In 2005, he graduated in historical musicology (BMus) from King's College, London University, where he achieved first class honours and was awarded the Purcell Prize for the student with the highest marks in the final year.
During his time at King's he was able to pursue his specialist interests in Opera and Broadway, writing his final year undergraduate dissertation on Verdi's Stiffelio. As part of his degree, he also studied the piano with Colin Stone at the Royal Academy of Music for three years.
He recently completed a one-year Master's programme (MMus) at King's, where his dissertation focused on Verdi's attempt to resolve classical forms with the demands of the drama in Don Carlos. The examiners awarded him a distinction for his MMus in November 2006, and he is now in the process of preparing one of his essays for publication.
His current PhD research on the Broadway musical My Fair Lady looks at how source studies can affect accounts of the musical's genesis, as well as the historiography, performance and analysis of the work. He also lectured on the Broadway Musical in the Department of Music at King’s during early 2007.
From 2004-7, he wrote reviews for the website musicOMH.com, becoming a staff writer in 2004 and Classical Editor in 2005. During his time there, he reviewed numerous opera productions around the world as well as many concerts, including a large number of the BBC Proms and performances by the London Symphony Orchestra.
He has interviewed singers such as José Cura, Gerald Finley, Violeta Urmana, Rebecca Evans, Toby Spence, Christine Rice, Kyle Ketelsen, Jacques Imbrailo and Ailish Tynan.
He also contributes to the newly-founded Wagner Journal (edited by Barry Millington). Recent reviews include a study of Ring Cycle productions at Covent Garden and a controversial view of Mark Elder's new Wagner CD with the Halle Orchestra.
He is the owner and editor of MusicalCriticism.com, which he founded in March 2007 with Agnes Kory.