Profile Interview

Peter Sykes

Experience the history, vision and imagination... as Peter Sykes leads Hawthorn Band on a new journey.

Peter Sykes

Peter Sykes, internationally renowned tuba player, has a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on as the recently appointed Conductor of Hawthorn Band in Victoria.

Peter Sykes began playing tuba in his local high school band under the direction of Peter Walmsley.  Joining the Willoughby band, Peter went on to study Tuba with Peter Walmsley, Baden McCarron and Geoffrey Bailey of the Sydney Conservatorium. A member of the Sydney Youth orchestra in 1976, and 1977, Peter also toured America, Philippines and Australia during these years with the Australian Youth Orchestra and following was appointed Principal Tubist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

During his 16-year tenure with the Melbourne Symphony, Peter gained an international reputation as an orchestral tuba player, teacher, motivator and impresario.

Peter travelled overseas on numerous occasions to further his studies in performance and teaching, studying with Daniel Perantoni University of Indiana, Robert Tucci Bavarian Opera Orchestra and the legendary Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony. Through his work overseas, Peter was invited to perform at the International Tuba Conference in Washington D.C.

In demand as a teacher, Peter taught at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne College of Advanced Education, Army School of Music and the Canberra School of Music. Through stretching the boundaries of performance and teaching of Brass, Peter's unique style influenced many brass players in Australia, among them Cameron Brook, Frank Barzyk, Carolyn Johns, Timothy Jones, Paul Gunning, David Martin and Ken Waterworth.

Throughout his years as a professional musician Peter has always remained loyal to his background, the Brass Band, playing with groups such as Footscray & Yarraville and Kew. He has mentored a number of musical directors in Melbourne, and whilst many have considered Peter to be "Out there," his passion for the medium and the encouragement, expertise and time he gave to those men over the years certainly is worthy of acknowledgement.  It was once said of Peter: "put a forest in front of Peter and he will take you right through it."

Peter Sykes - always loyal to his background - the Brass Band

His zeal for the furtherment of Australian music, performance and the Tuba, can best be described with one word…Solitaire.  The Solitaire Tuba Euphonium Ensemble was Peter's creation. Based on the great ensembles he had heard while studying in America, Solitaire here in Australia drew players from a number of Melbourne Colleges, Service and Brass Bands. Peter embarked on a mission and with this ensemble created a sound, style and repertoire that has never been repeated. Peter commissioned in excess of 20 original Australian compositions by composers including Barry McKimm, Tony Gould, Paul Sarcich and Graeme Denniss and had arrangers such as Hawker, Klay, De Vissa and Dreyfus create works. Among Peter's many skills, as said by Barry McKimm "Peter has that rare ability to imagine the impossible and then find the right composer/arranger to create it and you know what, he always got it right." It was within a very short period that Solitaire was hailed as the finest ensemble of its' type in the world. Along with Peter's mentoring, he had an innate quality to attract the best and they wanted to be involved, with such greats as Barry Bignell, Peter Jackson, Simone De Haan, the immaculate Gordon Webb and none other than the incomparable Mervyn Simpson. With Peter's will and encouragement, Mervyn came out of retirement to conduct Solitaire, what a combination! Mervyn hailed Solitaire as the finest ensemble he had conducted in his entire 50 plus year career. Mervyn and all the people involved with Solitaire knew that Peter always believed in no limits, let's do it, together! The culmination for Peter was when Japanese Maestro Hiroyuki Iwaki became Solitaire's Patron.

Another of Peter's ensembles was "Southern Brass", a large ensemble performing many of the great classics from the Brass Band repertoire. Drawing players from right across Melbourne, this ensemble's goal was to simply play great music. Among the many concerts presented were two separate programs, which for very different reasons remain memorable. The first was a concert of brass and wind music by Australian composer Barry McKimm featuring as soloists the legendary jazz pianist, Tony Gould, and Tubist, Paul Gunning. A highlight was Barry's acclamation to Peter that his interpretation of Ash Wednesday was "Phenomenal, I never imagined it could be played with such fire." The second concert brought vocalist Andrew MacCallman in front of Southern Brass. Many times over the years Peter has referred to Andrew's talent and his interpretation of the words by Stephen Sondheim, and it was in this concert that Peter's love of music theatre shone, with again that innate understanding of what "Is."

In 1994 Peter chose to leave the music industry and focus on other skills. He moved on into the people industry and now operates his own business as a design and sales consultant to a large residential builder in Melbourne. He believes now that his housing "Vehicle" is simply another instrument enabling him to communicate with others and help in building their dream, while fulfilling his. Peter's second love has always been a deep desire to understand people and help them learn, change and grow.
 
Peter attended the National Band Championships in 2005 to hear the final performance given by his great musical mentor, Peter Walmsley, and his passion for Brass Band's was re-ignited.

Always stretching the boundaries, taking people to new heights, Peter has never given up knowing that people want a sense of belonging, hope, and to excel. Peter has a wonderful understanding of music, audience and brass bands: the music, passion and skill is all still there.

Peter Sykes conducting Hawthorn Band

In the latter part of 2005, Peter chose to become involved with the Hawthorn Band, firstly as President and recently, following a personal referral from Barry Bignell, the band appointed Peter as their new conductor. Peter wants us all to "Experience the history, vision and imagination...Hawthorn."