Shortlisted for the Royal Philharmonic Society Award — and building the future of classical music, one composer at a time.
THE VISION
The JAM Festival began as a platform for bold commissioning and the presentation of contemporary classical music. Under Hudson's artistic direction, it has grown into something larger: an organisation that doesn't just present music, but actively shapes the ecosystem in which it is created.
The festival has brought internationally renowned artists and ensembles to the stage, including the BBC Singers, Britten Sinfonia, The King's Singers, VOCES8 and Britten Sinfonia. In 2026, its impact was recognised with a shortlisting for the Royal Philharmonic Society Award in Series & Events, the UK's highest honour in classical music.
But for Hudson, the festival is only part of the picture. His deeper ambition is building a legacy of support for the next generation of composers.
THE LEGACY
The JAM Composer Residency offers emerging composers what is hardest to find at the start of a career: dedicated time, expert mentorship, professional performance and professionally produced recordings. In partnership with the Royal College of Music, London, and ensembles including VOCES8 and the Sacconi Quartet, the Residency provides a fully funded pathway from composition to concert hall.
In the past year alone, Hudson has tripled the programme's reach, thus expanding from three composers to nine, a commitment that reflects his belief that the future of classical music depends on investing in the people who will write it.
Beyond the Residency, Hudson has written and presented 56 free online tutorials on composing for brass quintet, organ, choir and string quartet, reaching over 150,000 viewers worldwide. It is this work (freely given, globally accessible) that Hudson sees as his lasting contribution to the art form.
The festivals, the premieres, the broadcasts will be remembered. But the composers who found their voice because someone invested in them : that, for Hudson, is the legacy that matters most.
