Australian Pianist Dean Sky-Lucas has Passed Away

Sky-Lucas was a harpsichordist, repetiteur, and educator, who worked at institutions across Australia and New Zealand

The Australian pianist, harpsichordist, counter-tenor, and lecturer, Dean Sky-Lucas was a graduate of the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, and later served as a lecturer and accompanist to the wind and opera departments of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. 

For four years, he was also an associate artist with the Australian National Academy of Music. Following his tenure, he went on to study speech pathology at Latrobe University — soon becoming a key figure of vocal performance from a biomedical perspective.

The exact cause of Sky-Lucas’s passing is uncertain, “but we do know that while he was still in hospital recovering from surgery he learned that he had advanced cancer,” a family member posted on Facebook.

Sky-Lucas performed harpsichord, celeste, piano, and organ with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. He was often featured on ABC FM, Sunday Live, and Radio National, Radio New Zealand, and the BBC. 

In 2005, he recorded a CD of Italian Baroque music with Louisa Hunter-Bradley and David MacFarlane which was received with critical acclaim. He was also a repetiteur and vocal coach at the Victorian Opera. 

From 2010 to 2015, he served as Lecturer and Coordinator of Collaborative Piano at the School of Music, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Additionally, he accompanied Voices New Zealand and toured with the National Youth Choir throughout the North and South Islands and internationally throughout Czechia, North France, England and Singapore to critical acclaim. 

He later tutored and lectured at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, and was the conductor of The Melody Choir, and the Principal Accompanist to the Senior Choir at the Australian Children’s Choir. 

Notably, Sky-Lucas was the Director of Music and head repetiteur for several of the productions launched by ACoCo Opera, including their award winning season of The Handmaid’s Tale in 2018 for the Yarra Valley Festival. Prior to his passing, he was the weekly organist to the Newman College Chapel and its choir conducted by Dr Gary Ekkel.

“He brought incredible warmth and joy to our young Melody choir choristers, often using funny puppets, props, and engaging stories to inspire and educate,” The Australian Children’s Choir posted on Facebook. “Dean took immense pride in watching our choristers grow in their musical abilities, and his encouragement meant so much to everyone he worked with. We are heartbroken and in shock, but we will navigate this loss together. Dean was not only an extraordinary musician but also a cherished colleague and friend. Dean, your legacy will live on in our hearts and through the music you loved so deeply. Rest peacefully, surrounded by the angels, butterflies, and bees you loved so much.”

“Dean Sky-Lucas is such a loss to our Australian music community,” conductor Benjamin Northey wrote on Facebook. “He was a supremely gifted musician and collaborator who always brought depth and integrity to everything he did. He’ll be deeply missed by us all. Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

Our condolences to Mr. Sky-Lucas’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.