Kimball Sykes

clarinet

Kimball Sykes joined the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) as principal clarinet in 1985. From 1983 to 1985 he was principal clarinet of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as a soloist with the NACO on numerous occasions. An avid chamber musician, he has performed at many festivals including the Orford Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, and Music and Beyond. He performs regularly at home and on tour with the NACO Wind Quintet, whose CD of Saint-Saëns’ chamber music for winds garnered an Editor’s Choice designation from Gramophone magazine. In 2004 his recording for CBC Records of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet with Pinchas Zukerman and the NACO’s principal string players was nominated for a Juno award. Born in Vancouver, Mr. Sykes studied with Ronald deKant at the University of British Columbia and with Robert Marcellus in Chicago. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and is also on faculty at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.