Guildhall School is deeply saddened to hear of the death of alumna and former teacher, Belinda Sykes
Belinda was a highly renowned and universally loved singer and musician, who studied oboe, baroque oboe and recorder at Guildhall School, before going on to train in voice and improvisation in Morocco, Bulgaria, Syria, Spain and India.
She also obtained a Masters degree in Ethnomusicology (Arabic music) from London University's School of Oriental and African Studies. Of Belinda’s performance, London's Arabic press enthused: "One would never realise she is not Arabic".
As well as Guildhall School, Belinda held teaching positions at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. Most recently, she was Professor of Medieval Music at Trinity College of Music.
Belinda founded and directed the group Joglaresa, who have performed internationally at festivals and venues including the Aldeburgh Festival, York Early Music Festival, London's Lufthansa Festival, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Barbican Centre in London, St David's Hall in Cardiff, Sana'a & Aden in Yemen, Brezice Early Music Festival in Slovenia, the Amsterdam International Festival of Jewish Music and Chinchilla Early Music Festival. They have an extensive catalogue of recordings, and their rich and eclectic style brings together ancient and traditional music, as well as a broad international influence, to create a harmonious, homogenous sound. Belinda and Joglaresa continued to perform throughout the pandemic and across the course of Belinda’s illness, bringing untold joy to many.
As a solo artist, Belinda recorded and sung solo with a range of early music ensembles, including solo features with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. As an oboist, she played for the Gabrieli Consort, English Concert, King’s Consort, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Age of Enlightenment and The Hanover Band, and won the 1990 Reichenberg Award for Baroque Oboe.
Throughout her career, Belinda collaborated with composers including Sir Harrison Birtwistle, for whom she was principal and soloist oboe in Bacchai at the National Theatre. She has also worked with Orlando Gough, Dominic Muldowney, Trevor Jones, Howard Shore, Adrian Johnston and Jocelyn Pook. A veritable polymath, Belinda also took to the stage as an actor, appearing alongside Ben Whishaw in Bakkhai at the Almeida, singing (whilst flying) in As You Like It at the National Theatre, and served as Musical Director/oboist for King Charless III in the Almeida and throughout the West End run.
Belinda was a valued alumna and staff member of the School, and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
If any Guildhall School alumni, staff and friends wish to send in your memories and condolence messages for Belinda’s band mates, friends and family, please email alumni@gsmd.ac.uk with your message, or reach out to Joglaresa directly at joglaresegacy@gmail.com