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| At a school committed to God-honoring excellence, there is nothing more exciting than someone who has achieved such excellence sharing their gifts. This was the case on an evening in January, when Azusa Pacific University’s School of Music hosted one of the most passionate singers of our time. It was chilly outside, but Munson Recital Hall resonated with the warm baritone of Jubilant Sykes, who performed a wide selection of pieces in his own unforgettably personal style. The delighted audience let out a grateful applause and then silenced as Sykes stepped onto the small stage with the peaceful look of one who does what he knows he was made to do. He introduced each piece of music, briefly explaining the context and meaning of its lyrics. The pieces ranged from Brazilian and Portuguese compositions to Schubert and Gershwin to traditional spiritual ballads. The mood of the numbers varied widely, including the somber "Like a Sick Eagle" by Charles Ives and Aaron Copland's "I Bought Me a Cat" - a tune reminiscent of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." Sykes brought each to life with a superbly artful voice and intentional expression. The singer attributes his talent to God, and said that his "commitment to Christ is foremost." To Sykes, faith and art are inseparable parts of his life. | "Singing and being a Christian spills over into every aspect of life. So, not all songs are sacred, but hopefully everything I do has a God-consciousness to it. While I sing and pick material, I hope there's some truth in it someplace. But I don't separate the two, I am what I am: I am a Christian who sings, and who does many things. I don't compartmentalize them," he said. Sykes grew up in Los Angeles where
his vocal experience and love for music began. His career, which has included
performances with groups such as the Metropolitan
Opera, Boston Symphony Orchestra,
and Los
Angeles Philharmonic, is based on classical training at local universities
as well as study in Europe. When asked to recall a highlight from his education,
Sykes reminisced about an affirmation he received early on, in the midst
of an intimidating experience common to every voice student. "It was my
freshman year in college and I was singing for my jury, and I was really
very scared. After I sang, I remember walking out to the hallway. And a
professor who taught violin came out into the hallway and he kissed me." Sykes
was taken aback at the time, but remembers "looking at his face and seeing
the sincerity. |
