A native of Kansas, Sylvia Reynolds Eckes' concert career began with decisive critical acclaim following her debut concerts in Oslo Norway and at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. She has performed regularly in the United States, Europe, and China as soloist and chamber musician, has appeared frequently on TV and radio programs, and has been guest soloist with orchestras in California, Florida, and New Jersey. Recent performances include concerts at Chopin’s home in Poland and at Grieg’s home in Bergen Norway.   Her career as chamber musician has taken her to Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Beijing, and Tianjin China, and to numerous cities in Norway. She made her debut as accompanist in Oslo with baritone, Erling Onsager, and at Carnegie Recital Hall with oboist Brynar Hoff. She was also the orchestra pianist of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has recorded on Crystal Labels with clarinetist, Melvin Warner, and solo works of Edvard Grieg on the Connoisseur Label.

Dr. Eckes holds a B.M. degree from Peabody Conservatory where she graduated at age 20, a M.S. degree from the Juilliard School, and a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the University of Kansas. As a graduate student at the Oslo Conservatory she received the debut concert award. She was a scholarship student at the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg Austria, performing twice in the Salzburg Festival. Other study includes the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara California.  Dr. Eckes has held full-time academic appointments at the University of Kansas, Northern Illinois University, and Rollins College. She served as Interim Director of the Ohio University School of Music from 2001-2002. She has been a frequent guest instructor at the Norwegian State Ballet Academy.   She has taught at several universities and conservatories in Beijing and Tianjin China and for two summers at the Festival "Musica in Laguna" in Chioggia Italy. She has also taught privately throughout her career.  As competition winners, her students have performed in various festivals, with orchestras, and in locations throughout the country including CAMI Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Steinway Hall, Twin Oaks Mansion in Washington D.C., the University of Illinois, and Princeton University. In 1992, she received the Robinor Pedagogy Award of Excellence from the Piano Teachers Society of America, and "Teacher of the Year" award from the Steinway Society. From 1990-1995 she was president of a non-profit organization, JOIE, that produced music programs by children and for children for educational TV, in schools and libraries.   She is currently director of the Grieg Festival – a three-day event that includes performances, master classes, competitions, and a conference and will be held in Winter Park Florida in January 2009.

“..refreshing grace and simplicity ... intimate manner of speech ... her unassuming affection for line and texture in Haydn's B minor Sonata (Hob.32) and the clarity and the sweetness of her phrasing in Schumann's difficult "Humoreske" was a soothing relief from New York's arena of giant egos." Bernard Holland, NEW YORK TIMES