The Saxophone Found Me: The Joshua Hyde Story

Joshua Hyde chats with Tabitha Rickard about his remarkable musical journey that began in Ballarat and has taken him across Europe. Though now based in Switzerland, where he teaches at the Geneva University of Music, he continues to perform experimental music around the globe — from Paris and Montreal to Cologne and back home in Australia.His artistic path started early, with piano as his first love. But in high school, it was as though the saxophone chose him, rather than the other way around. That spark led to his first encounter with the Ballarat Arts Foundation (BAF) in 2004, where he applied for a grant to study with a teacher in Melbourne. A few years later, BAF supported him again — this time enabling him to travel to Bangkok to compete in an international saxophone competition, where he encountered players from all corners of the globe.Support from BAF came at key turning points in his journey, empowering him to pursue advanced studies at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), then further abroad in Bordeaux and later at the prestigious Paris Conservatory. But Joshua also reflect fondly on Ballarat’s rich musical heritage — not just great players, but truly inspiring teachers. He remembers playing in the city’s big band during his youth with joy and nostalgia.Today, he performs with Elision, one of Australia’s leading new-music ensembles, and continues to compose and present his own work internationally. Having once played a great deal of jazz, Joshua now explores the spaces between genres — creating new music to fill those gaps.His reflections on the arts highlight a stark contrast between funding in Australia and Europe; and his thoughts for young musicians, about navigating a competitive landscape, building your brand, and managing your career like an entrepreneur. Joshua believes that every small donation to the Ballarat Arts FOundation can make a life-changing difference for emerging artists, and he encourages people to witness the ripple effect of their generosity. His career is a wonderful example of it!

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