Robert Sykes Jazz

My experience as a professional musician will elevate your event to a memorable occasion. I have performed at hundreds of events over my forty year career in the DC/MD/VA and WV area. Solid experience and flexible nature, I can perform many genres in jazz, and the Great American Songbook.

I am available to perform at weddings, private events, cocktail receptions, corporate events, conferences, retirement and birthday celebrations, as well as house concerts.

Jazz pianist, Robert Sykes, has been teaching and performing professionally for the past forty years in the Washington, DC area. He maintains an active performing schedule as a free-lance pianist, and has performed at various venues, including Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, Carter Baron Amphitheatre, Lisner Auditorium, The Phillips Collection, The Hirshorn Museum, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Hillwood Museum, The Barns of Wolftrap, and the Swiss Embassy, as well as at many Washington dignitaries’ events.

Robert has been a faculty member of the Jazz department at Levine Music in Washington, DC since 1994. He is the former Chair of the Jazz Faculty, during which he coordinated Master classes with Kenny Werner, Stanley Cowell, and Sheila Jordan. Performing in Levine Music’s Spracker MasterClass Series, Robert has had the pleasure of accompanying legendary vocalists Sheila Jordan and Nnenna Freelon. He is also a founding member of the Levine Faculty Jazz Trio.

Robert joined the adjunct music faculty at Shepherd University School of Music, Shepherdstown, WV in 2021. He teaches jazz piano applied lessons and Class Jazz Piano, as well as performances with the jazz faculty. In 2018, he was also on the Jazz Camp faculty for middle and high schoolers.

Robert can be heard on his own recording, Four + Four, featuring the Robert Sykes Quintet. This album includes four jazz standards and four original compositions. He also recorded a Christmas album in 2021 with the Antietam Jazz Collective, featuring Scott Silbert, Anita Thomas, and Gary Montanaro. He currently performs at Happy Retreat in Charles Town, WV for concerts series. He has also performed at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, the Bavarian Inn and Alma Bea in Shepherdstown, and is available for private events such as weddings and cocktail parties.

Acoustic piano must be tuned, or if I provide my keyboard, I will need access to a power outlet, and be located in a weather protected area if outside.
Based on your budget, I can also provide multiple instruments: piano, bass, drums, reeds and vocalist.