DAVID McSKIMMING
Musician, 6-3-1950 – 17-3-2016
Australia lost one of its most respected and loved musicians with the passing of David McSkimming. Admired and loved by all who worked with him, he was described by celebrated conductor Richard Gill as a brilliant musician whose contribution to music in Australia was without peer or parallel.
And yet McSkimming preferred to see himself as "just the pianist in the corner", his humility and self-effacing approach downplaying his enormous contribution to opera and music in Australia as repetiteur, music director, vocal coach and accompanist.
Born in Rabaul New Guinea while his parents were working as agricultural advisers in New Ireland Province, David Grant McSkimming contracted malaria as a baby and was not expected to survive. Housing consisted of coconut-leaf walls and timber, with a simple roof of Kunai grass, providing little shelter on the tropical island.
His humble beginnings were paralleled by his early life in South Australia to which his parents returned in 1953, eventually settling on a scrub block near Lock on the central Eyre Peninsula.
David's early musical days were not characterised by a privileged upbringing with the many accompanying advantages, but he was clearly a young child with exceptional musical gifts. His musical mother recognised his ability and made considerable sacrifice to ensure he received sound teaching from the age of six, making a weekly 200-kilometre, 14-hour round trip over very difficult country dirt roads to piano lessons.
Displaying similar determination and persistence, McSkimming gained entry to the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide, where he studied under Clemens Leske, who recognised his exceptional talent as a soloist and accompanist.
Leske encouraged the development of what became McSkimming's trademark imagination and expression as well as his obvious musical gifts, and he graduated with a Master's degree in piano performance.
As his second instrument, McSkimming learned the French horn at the Conservatorium and later played with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, where he was offered a permanent position.
However, when an open position as a regular pianist with the ABC was offered, McSkimming became the full-time accompanist with the Adelaide Singers. This meant he had to abandon plans to move overseas for further study, a decision he never regretted, as his career and reputation developed.
McSkimming was principally based in Melbourne but for many years travelled all over Australia as an accompanist and repetiteur. He was a member of the State Opera of South Australia from 1976 to 1989, where his invention and work with singers was described as exemplary, "the finest musician of his kind in Australia".
After this he worked with the Victoria State Opera as principal repetiteur until joining Opera Australia for 1997, and then working with Opera Australia on a contract basis. He also worked with Opera Factory Zurich.
McSkimming was an associate artist at the Australian National Academy of Music, working with many renowned artists including English mezzo-soprano Sarah Walker and Australian baritone Gregory Yurisich. During 2003-04 David returned to the State Opera of South Australia where he spent seven months as principal repetiteur for the company's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. His repertoire eventually extended to more than 165 operas.
McSkimming was also Victoria Opera's founding head of music, where his abilities as a musician and teacher were matched by the deep friendships he formed with those with whom he worked. He inspired countless singers and emerging artists with his supportive, sensitive coaching and musical insight while being well-known for his wicked sense of humour in the rehearsal room.
His musicality, musicianship, sensitivity and creativity as an accompanist ensured he was widely sought after. He gave recitals with many of Australia's musicians, including singers Yvonne Kenny, Marilyn Richardson, Emma Matthews and Jonathan Summers. He worked with violinists Jane Peters and Miwako Abe and horn player Richard Runnels, and many others.
In October 1998, as part of the Melbourne Festival, McSkimming was the associate artist in recitals with the renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo and American tenor Gary Lakes.
McSkimming's recording with Rosamund Illing, Songs of Duparc and Poulenc, received widespread acclaim in Australia and internationally and was voted Australian Classical Vocal CD of the Year in 1997. He recorded Chinese songs with tenor Yu Jixing and also French violin music with violinist Miwako Abe. 2005 saw the release of a CD of English songs and duets sung by Anthony Warlow and David Hobson; and in 2006, Hobson and McSkimming recorded and released an album of French songs.
In 2011, McSkimming was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), a neurological disorder that causes increasing disability as it progresses. He gradually lost the facility of his voice and hands, leading to his official retirement from work as a pianist in 2012.
McSkimming dealt with the challenges of MND and the increasing compromises and limitations it imposed on him with calm acceptance, showing resilience, courage, improvisation and the same finely honed sense of humour he displayed throughout his career.
He was renowned for his patience and wonderful sense of being unhurried, a quality he displayed throughout his life. It was matched by his generosity and willingness to accept others graciously. These qualities underpinned his ability to work with others, encouraging and developing individuals whether conductors, musicians, singers or developing musical artists.
His undeniable musical talent, and the humility and generosity of spirit that accompanied it, were recognised when David was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the performing arts on Australia Day, 2012.
He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 42 years, their two sons Ben and Cameron and five grandchildren. His devotion to his family never diminished.
He will be sorely missed by his family, as well as the many singers, musicians and friends who held him in such high regard.