Melbourne musician Dean Sky-Lucas has died after being diagnosed with advanced cancer.
A singer, accompanist and lecturer, Sky-Lucas was an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who performed with the Victoria Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
A family member announced the sad news Saturday on Facebook.
They said Sky-Lucas was recovering in the hospital from recent surgery when doctors discovered he had advanced cancer.
Friends and music fans were quick to share tributes to the beloved musician.
“Dean Sky-Lucas is a great loss to our Australian music community,” said Benjamin Northey, principal conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Melbourne musician Dean Sky-Lucas has died after being diagnosed with advanced cancer
Singer, accompanist and lecturer, Sky-Lucas was an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who performed with the Victoria Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
‘He was an extremely talented musician and collaborator who always brought depth and integrity to everything he did. We will all miss him deeply. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.’
The Australian Children’s Choir also posted a tribute to Sky-Lucas via Facebook.
“He brought incredible warmth and joy to our young Melody Choir choristers, often using fun puppets, props and interesting stories to inspire and educate,” the company wrote.
Sky-Lucas began his illustrious career after graduating from Newcastle University Conservatorium of Music.
He played the title role in Handel’s opera Orlando and Vivaldi Giustino.
Sky-Lucas was well known to classical music lovers as a pianist in Australia and New Zealand after touring extensively with the Ensemble Troika and the Kurrawong ensemble.
He also built a career in Tasmania in classical music circles, including teaching at the University of Auckland between 2010 and 2015 and working at Radio NZ as an opera critic.
Sky-Lucas also performed with Voices New Zealand and Choirs Aoteoroa.
In Australia, the talented artist lectured at the University of Melbourne in the department of wind and opera, at the Melbourne Conservatorium and at the Australian National Academy of Music.
He also worked as a vocal coach at the Victorian Opera and later studied speech pathology at La Trobe University.
He directed the Melody Choir and accompanied the Senior Choir of the Australian Children’s Choir.
A highly skilled multi-instrumentalist, Sky-Lucas played harpsichord, organ, celeste and piano, and was known among music fans after appearing on broadcasts across the BBC, ABC FM, Sunday Live and Radio National .
He was also a recording artist and in 2005 released a CD of Italian baroque music.
At the time of his death, he was organist at Newman College Chapel, University of Melbourne.