Hugues Kesteman studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, Belgium, where he was awarded the 1st Prize in bassoon, chamber music, music education and the State Certificate of Competence in Music Teaching. Prize in bassoon, chamber music, musical training and the State Certificate of Competence in Music Teaching.

He trained with Master Albert Hennige in Germany and studied Early Music with oboist Paul Dombrecht at the Lemmens Instituut in Leuven.

A laureate of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation, he was bassoon-contrabassoon in the Liége Orchestra, soloist and bandleader in the Belgian Radio and Television Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders and the Régie Sinfonia do Porto.

He has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Brazil, Peru, India and Macau, with "La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy, Concerto Köln, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Ensemble Rumein (with Sabine Meyer), Concerto Budapest and Quinteto Artziz", with pianists António Rosado and Pedro Burmester, among others.

He has participated in several CD recordings with Octophoros, Wiener Akademie, Segreis de Lisboa and Arte Real Ensemble. As a teacher, he has created five bassoon courses in Belgium and four in Portugal, and has given masterclasses in the USA, France and Belgium.

He organised two national bassoon courses in Belgium and the first national bassoon course in Portugal.

A martial art instructor (member of the technical committee of the Portuguese Aikido Federation) with European recognition, he has founded five centres in Portugal.

He was head of the Music Department at the Escola Superior de Música e das Artes de Espectáculo (ESMAE) for three years and is currently Professor of Chamber Music, founding Professor of the bassoon course, coordinator of the Wind Area at the same school and Musical Director of the Caldas da Raínha Spring Music Festival.