Arts & Culture
19 July, 2026
Documentary celebrates Maestro Tommy Tycho’s genius
A new documentary exploring the extraordinary life and music of Maestro Tommy Tycho will screen at Bowral’s Empire Cinema next month.
A new documentary exploring the extraordinary life and music of Maestro Tommy Tycho will screen at Bowral’s Empire Cinema next month.
The documentary – TYCHO! Beyond the Baton – celebrates the significant impact Tycho has had on Australia’s cultural landscape.
It showcases the genius of Tycho (AM MBE) through rare archival material and interviews with a wide variety of well-known Australian entertainers including Ray Martin, Julie Anthony, James Morrison and Todd McKenney.
The quality of the documentary’s narrative has been recognised by Academy Award director Bruce Beresford who said the way the story had been pieced together and the editing was “marvellous”.
It has been recognised at a number of film festivals internationally since premiering in Sydney last October.
Tycho (1928-2013) was a Hungarian-born pianist, conductor, composer and arranger who was associated with musical productions on Australian television for many years but his work was far-reaching and he was considered Australia’s preeminent musical director.
He is widely recognised as Australia’s most distinguished artist in the field of contemporary music.
Television great Bert Newton is quoted in the documentary as saying Tycho was “undoubtedly one of the greatest musical talents this country has every enjoyed – if not the world”.
TYCHO! Beyond the Baton will be screening at the Empire Cinema on Sunday, August 16 at 2.30pm and will be followed a Q&A featuring Dr Samuel Cottell – a Southern Highlands identity and the foremost expert on Tycho.
Cottell – himself a talented pianist, arranger, composer and music director – completed his PhD on Tycho’s life and music and is advisor to the Tommy Tycho Trust.
The documentary’s director Stephan Welling and executive producers David Matchett and Vicky Tycho will also take part.
Tickets are available online at www.empirecinema.com.au
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