News and Projects
2024
Anthem
The Matildas continue their path to the Paris Olympics in a quest of glory with Tommy’s uplifting and joyful orchestration of the National Anthem featured before every match.
Pushing the Boundaries: The Mavis Bramston Show
A documentary about the Mavis Bramston Show the ground-breaking satirical television series will be screening at the Riverside Cinema between 14 - 16 March.
Tommy’s musical brilliance is featured in this Award Winning film.
https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/pushing-the-boundaries-the-mavis-bramston-show/
2023
Talk
Dr Samuel Cottell returned to Mosman Library & continued his series of successful talks on the life & music of Tommy Tycho.
Monday Matters: 2CH Music and the Good Music Orchestra took place on 6 November at the Barry O’Keefe Library - Mosman.
Dr Cottell focused on Tommy’s musical achievements during the 70s featuring archival material from the Tycho collection
National Anthem - Matildas
Tommy’s emotionally rousing orchestration of the Australian National Anthem featured before every match played by the Matildas in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Performance
Maria Lindsay Virtuoso Violinist, performed Tommy’s beautiful Violin Concerto with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra in a concert titled Dedications at The Concourse Concert Hall, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood that took place on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 May.
‘a dazzling performance’ - Reviewed - Pepe Newton - classikON
Anniversary
To recognise 10 years since the passing of The Maestro a virtual exhibition has been created.
Curated by Dr Cottell and produced by the Tommy Tycho Trust the exhibition showcases the first 10 years of Tommy’s career in Australia.
Please enjoy:-
https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/node/11350544
2022
Electrifying Strings
The Metropolitan Orchestra under the baton of Chief Conductor Sarah-Grace Williams featuring Virtuoso Violinist Maria Lindsay performed Tommy’s haunting and masterful Violin Concerto on Saturday 30th July at the Petersham Town Hall.
‘The performance of Tommy Tycho’s Violin Concerto was a stunning centrepiece of the event. This is a work full of fiendishly challenging string effects. Even more engaging is its use of Middle Eastern flavour as a reference point throughout. Tycho’s impressively apt violin writing repeatedly dances into high positions and dishes up devilish bravura. The beauty or sweetness of Tycho’s unique soulful structures and interestingly shaped spicy cantabile dazzled hearts and minds.’
Reviewed - Paul Nolan - Sydney Arts Guide
Mavis Bramston
Pushing the Boundaries: The Mavis Bramston Show will have its world premiere at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.
Award-winning Director Stephan Wellink explores the impact of Mavis Bramston on a changing Australian society and how the show inspired generations of satirical programs.
Tommy’s prolific musical brilliance is featured in this documentary.
The film screened online throughout the month of July
2021
Presentation
Due to public demand, Dr Samuel Cottell returned to host Monday Matters - Part Two of The Life & Music of Tommy Tycho at the Mosman Council Library.
The talk took place on Monday 3rd May at the Barry O’Keefe Library and was live streamed on FaceBook.
This was the second presentation in the successful series delving into Tommy’s life. Samuel showcased his infinite knowledge of the Maestro’s life by presenting samples of audio & visual material from the 1970ies onwards infused with a blend of wit and humour.
Recital
Maria Lindsay Virtuoso Violinist, performed Tommy’s beautiful Violin Concerto with the Christ Church Camerata on Sunday 30th May at the Christ Church Cathedral, 52 Church Street Newcastle.
The late renowned Australian conductor Richard Gill AO on hearing the Violin Concerto wrote “an outstanding work in every way, reflecting Tycho’s profound gifts as a composer and someone who understands the orchestra”.
2020
Talk
Samuel Cottell is a complete musician, classical and jazz pianist, composer, arranger and teacher, who recently completed his PhD on the life and music of Tommy Tycho.
Samuel shared his in-depth knowledge about Tommy’s life which was live streamed on Wednesday 2nd September at 11.30am from Mosman Council Library.
Samuel’s presentation featured an array of archival material including video and audio recordings from the Maestro’s collection.
View Samuel’s insightful & entertaining talk: https://www.facebook.com/mosmanlibrary/videos/1199850953710598/
2019
Digitisation
Ken Laing AM of Media Music, leading producer of concerts & special events, music & orchestra coordinator & long term personal manager of Tommy, along with the Tommy Tycho Trust continue the digitisation of Tommy’s vast collection of orchestrations and arrangements, an on-going project to preserve this extraordinary legacy for future generations.
—
Performance
Critically acclaimed Australian singer & songwriter Gregg Arthur toured regional NSW. Gregg Arthur in Concert with Quartet Quartet features beautiful arrangements by Maestro Tommy Tycho. To find out more about Gregg Arthur: www.greggarthur.com
—
Screening
Friday 31st May marked the 30th Anniversary of the iconic Australian comedy Young Einstein. It was the first feature film written, directed and starring Yahoo Serious with the musical score composed by Maestro Tommy Tycho. A special event screening took place at the Hayden Orpheum Cremorne with 500 fans in attendance. Yahoo made a rare public appearance for a Q&A session and spoke of the enormous contribution Tommy made to this film & his next movie Reckless Kelly.
2018
Recording
String Quartet in C Minor Opus 1: Virtuoso violinist Maria Lindsay was commissioned by the Tommy Tycho Trust to form a group for the purpose of preserving a String Quartet (previously undiscovered). The piece was written by Tommy in Budapest in 1947 - he was 19 years old. Rehearsals for the String Quartet commenced in 2017. In April 2018 the String Quartet was recorded at the James Morrison Studios by Maria Lindsay - Violin I / Adrian Bendt - Violin II / Robert Harris - Viola / Margaret Lindsay - Cello. Producers - Bernard Walz & Vicky Tycho. Maria performed the World Premiere of Tommy's hauntingly beautiful Violin Concerto & has since showcased this piece several times: Read more about Maria Lindsay on her website: www.marialindsay.com
—
Album
Mary Schneider 'Australia's Queen of Yodelling' released her album entitled Yodelling the Big Bands. The album took several years to complete and includes four arrangements orchestrated by Tommy prior to his stroke in 2008 - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Jersey Bounce, In the Mood and Yodelling Jingle Bells.
Mary notes on the album cover, ‘We approached the Maestro Tommy Tycho OAM/AM who had been so much a part of the Classics project to help us realise the potential of this one. We recorded four songs which are on this album... then we sadly lost Tommy who was brilliant.’
Learn more obout Mary Schneider: www.maryschneider.com.au
2016
Exhibition
The life and music of Tommy Tycho, an exhibition curated by Samuel Cottell was featured at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Library Glass space from 10 August to 10 October. Samuel is a classical and jazz pianist, composer & arranger. He recently completed his PhD on the Life and Music of Tommy Tycho at the University of Sydney, Conservatorium of Music. Samuel’s work on the PhD included an entry into the Grove Dictionary of music and musicians. Read more on the publication
Learn more about the exhibition: news.library.sydney.edu.au/new-exhibition-life-music-tommy-tycho
2014
Concert: A Tribute to Tommy Tycho
The Good Old Days concert series at the Sydney Town Hall is a series of superb concerts featuring the creme of Australian musical talent in the hands of accomplished musician Bernard Walz. On 1st October performers Jackie Love, Adam Scicluna, Bernard Walz, Ian Cooper and Billy Burton under the Musical Direction of Bernard Walz honoured 'the Maestro’ Tommy Tycho by performing his most acclaimed orchestrations.
Tommy was both a mentor & great friend to Bernard, and described him as ‘an extraordinary musician’ & ‘his worthy successor’. View the current Good Old Days program: goodolddaysconcerts.com.au
2013
National Portrait Gallery
A colour photo lithograph of Tommy taken by Calvin Winetroube in 1986 was donated to the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, by the Tycho family.
View the work in the national collection: www.portrait.gov.au//people/tommy-tycho-1928