Hugh Robertson is a native of Hickory, NC. He began playing the saxophone in Jr. High School band, and flute shortly thereafter. He studied music and anthropology at the University of Michigan, and earned his Master of Fine Arts in Music degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1977, specializing in historical woodwind instruments.
He performed with professional early music ensembles in New York, Philadelphia, Vancouver, and San Francisco before returning to North Carolina in 1982.
He served as Musician-in-Residence at North Carolina State University from 1983 to 1985, and held similar positions in community colleges through the North Carolina Visiting Artist Program.
He is a long-time member of the well-known Latin-jazz band Carnavalito.