September 26, 1926 – February 16, 2015
After a long, distinguished, and fruitful career in music, Sydney Humphreys has reached his final cadence. Born in Chilliwack, BC, Sydney was gentle, patient, and kind – loved by all who knew him. He maintained complete focus and attention to detail in everything he undertook from photography, to tailoring, to learning the latest electronics. He had a curious mind and a voracious appetite for continuous learning.
Sydney was a prodigious young violinist, winning a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. It was there that he would eventually become a professor and a celebrated performer of chamber music.
He had a profound passion, commitment, and energy for his craft. For example, in 1970, Sydney performed the seemingly insurmountable task of playing all of Beethoven’s quartets and trios multiple times to celebrate the composer’s bicentenary. As an integral member of the Aeolian String Quartet, Bath Festival Orchestra with Yehudi Menuhin, Trio Victoria, Purcell String Quartet and Concert Master of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, he travelled the world to spread joy through music.
Upon the invitation of Robin Wood, Sydney returned to Canada in the 1970s to take a position as the Head of the Strings department at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, which he held for over thirty years. As a teacher, Sydney mentored his students to the full realization of their unique potential. As Jonathan Crow, a former student and now concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony said: “Many teachers can tell you how to play the violin, but few can help you to discover your own voice.” That was Sydney’s genius; that is his legacy.
“If music be the food of love, play on.” Sydney’s music plays on, literally and metaphorically, in his students around the world, in the hearts and minds of his loving family in Victoria; wife, Mary, son, Max/Carolyn, daughter, Atarah/Felipe and granddaughter Siena, and in all his friends who loved him.
Donations and many grateful thanks to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC (www.alzheimer.ca/bc) and to the excellent and caring staff of the Glengarry Hospital, Chandler Unit, of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation (www.gvef.org). Tribute concert date to be announced.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
40 Responses
Dear Mary, Atarah and Max, I am so sorry to read about the passing of a wonderful husband, father and friend. Anyone who could win Mary’s heart so completely had to be a fine and upstanding gentleman. The home that you were raised in was one of happiness and love. I feel most fortunate to have been invited for meals, social gatherings and had the privilege of hearing Sydney make great music. A void like that is not to be filled again. Shari and I will make a contribution to the Alzheimer Society and will look for the tribute concert date in the near future. Until that time, please know that we share a small part of your grief and our hearts go out to you. Lovingly and fondly, Jim.
Oh Mary, what unbearable sadness! There are so few giant oaks left in our woods….
Who else would spend 45 minutes with our quartet on the first note, or ripple through all those scales so beautifully!
We always left with the reverent feeling of “So that’s how it’s done.”
Well, if God really needed a new concertmaster, we now know who it is!
Mary, may the love you have for Sydney help swiftly to bear the hours of grief from your heart.
Brent and Frances
Dear Mary, Max, and Atarah,
It is hard to describe the contribution Sydney made to so many of us. He was a fine musician, an unsurpassed teacher and a warm and generous friend. I was trying to think of a phrase that would begin to do him justice and finally came up with contagious joie de vivre. I can only hope in some way to pass along his gifts to others.
Perhaps this quote from the Midrash begins to say it: “Many candles can be kindled from one candle without diminishing it.”
Liz
Dear Mary, Max and Atarah,
Blessings of peace to you all and Sydney. Mr. Humphreys is in all that I am, in all that I do, in all the music I play, perform, and teach. There is not one day that goes by in which his actions and words from thirty-odd years ago do not guide me and nudge my arms and fingers as they navigate wondrous music with wood, hair and strings. I close my eyes and I am back in his studio trying to play Bach. He tells me things about Bach that sends my mind to another galaxy. His words take me on a tour of the musical world, past and present, beyond the studio walls. I’m in London, in the Royal Albert hall, in a rehearsal with Menuhin, in a lesson with Enesco, in a LSO jingle session…all in one hour. Then he asks me how my sight-reading is coming along, and I squirm in my shoes…”Let’s have a go,” he says as he tosses an etude book onto the music stand. Darn, I’d rather be struggling with Bach, I tell myself. Maybe that’s why I love Bach’s music…
Rest well, Mr. Humphreys, and smile happily as you listen to your students play and teach music in their humble efforts to make this a better world.
Emlyn
Rest in Peace Sydney Humphreys, one of the most influential and kind teachers of our life. You have taught countless students how to love violin, love music and love themselves.
Without a doubt I owe Mr. Humphreys my career as a violinist. I think of his teaching (and my lessons) daily, and I quote him and retell his stories to my students routinely. I had the pleasure to both learn from him and work with him when he was acting concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony and I was a student freelancing in the back of the 2nd violin section. I will miss him, and I am so grateful for the years I spent with him in his studio at the VCM. His legacy is visible in every major Canadian orchestra, and in the leadership roles of those orchestras (off the top of my head I can think of three sitting Canadian concertmasters on whom he had a direct and lasting influence). Thank you for everything, Mr. Humphreys.
Words fail in trying to describe the enormous influence Sydney Humphreys had on our family in particular my son. His influence is ongoing. His love and humanity touched us and we are the better for it. Be at peace, Sydney.
We are so saddened to learn of Sydney’s passing, but cannot help but feel joy in a life well lived. He was kind and gentle in nature and notwithstanding his own incredible accomplishments; he focused not on himself, but on others. He was encouraging to both Michaela and Marcus in their musical training and his encouragement was very meaningful to all of us. We feel privileged to have known him. We know that he is now playing the violin for the choirs of angels in heaven. We offer our deepest condolences to Mary and family, and have all of you in our thoughts and prayers,
Bill, Jennifer, Michaela and Marcus
Dearest Mary, Max and Atarah,
Sydney was such a huge influence to me. He has been a lifelong source of inspiration, not just as a violinist and musician, but in his gentle, selectively pointed approach, his positive and inquisitive nature, his diverse interests.
I still hear his voice in my head and refer to his teachings and quote him regularly in lessons, even if that is with a good chat and a hearty laugh.
Please find comfort knowing that he cherished every moment he was with you.
I miss him deeply and remember him fondly.
Love and condolences,
David
May your memories of Sydney give you peace and comfort. He truly was one of the most talented, kind and intelligent people I have had the pleasure of meeting.