Sykes, James A., 1908-1985

Dates

• Existence: 1908 - 1985

Biography

James Andrews Sykes was born on July 10, 1908, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He received his B.A. from Princeton University in 1930, and his M.A. from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in 1933. After graduation he taught at the Lamont School of Music. In 1934, he became chairman of the department of music at Colorado College, a position he held until 1946. During his chairmanship at the College, Sykes made his concert pianist debut at the Town Hall in 1938. From 1947-1953, Sykes was the chairman of the music department at Colgate University. During W.W.II, Sykes served with the USO and led entertainment tours to servicemen in China, India, North Africa and the South Pacific. He also made four foreign concert tours, sponsored by the US Sate Department. He joined the faculty of the music department at Dartmouth College in 1953, and remained at Dartmouth until his retirement in 1973. During his time at Dartmouth, Sykes served as chairman of the department and spent a year at the Hochschule fuer Music in Berlin, Germany, as the Fulbright visiting professor. Sykes died in 1985.

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