By Jorge Casuso
December 9, 2025 -- A celebrated opera singer was allegedly stabbed to death by his son in their Pico Neighborhood home in Santa Monica Monday night, according to police.
Grammy nominated baritone Jubilant Sykes, 71, was pronounced dead at the scene at the residence in the 1700 block of Delaware Avenue after officers responded to a 9-1-1 caller who reported an assault in progress at around 9:20 p.m. (Image courtesy Florida Orchestra).
The suspect, the victim’s son, Micah Sykes, 31, was found inside the residence and taken into custody without incident, police officials said.
"Officers quickly arrived on scene and contacted the reporting party, who directed them inside the home," said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesman.
Sykes, who had performed and recorded with major artists and orchestras worldwide, was found by responding officers with "critical injuries consistent with a stabbing," police officials said.
"Forensic specialists are processing physical evidence, including the weapon recovered at the scene," Gilmour said. "The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation."
"The suspect has a history of mental illness. We don't know to what extent that contributed to the incident."
Raised in Los Angeles, Sykes' career spanned pop, gospel and classical music, "with the decisive shift to classical coming with a first place in Metropolitan Opera regional auditions in Los Angeles and subsequent New York Met debut" in 1990, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Sykes performed at hundreds of venues -- from the Apollo Theater to the Deutsche Oper Berlin -- and with some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Chicago, London and Boston Symphony orchestras and the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic orchestras.
He also worked with renown conductors, including Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin and John Williams, and with major artists including Julie Andrews, Christopher Parkening, Carlos Santana and Brian Wilson.
Sykes was named “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine, classical music's most prestigious publication, for his 2009 recording of Leonard Bernstein‘s “Mass.”
Sykes won high praise from music critics for his performances, which have been described as "fiery," "grand" and "revelatory."
According to his website, Sykes lived" in Southern California with his wife, Cecelia (and) they have three sons."
His son, Micah, will be booked for homicide, and the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration, police officials said.
"This appears to be an isolated incident occurring within a private residence, and there is no ongoing threat to the community," Gilmour said.
"SMPD has maintained a presence in the area throughout the investigation."
Anyone with information related to the case should contact SMPD Detective Peter Zamfirov at (310) 458-8451 (peter.zamfirov@santamonica.gov) or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at (310) 458-8427.