Sikora, Gisèle

Gisèle Sikora was a Flemish musician and guitar teacher. She grew up in a distinctly musical environment: her father was an instrument maker and her mother a well-known accordion player. At the age of eight she began taking lessons in music theory and piano. In her teenage years she played drums in a pop group, and at sixteen she obtained the highest level diploma in accordion at the music school.

Sikora later studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, where she specialized in classical guitar and also took courses in solfège, harmony, and chamber music. As a performing musician she appeared in various ensembles.

In the second half of the 1970s she was also active in the Limburg folk-inspired singer-songwriter group Stemming, which became known for its Dutch-language listening songs. The group released two LPs, De wereld gaat aan vlijt ten onder(1979) and Picknick (1980), and enjoyed regional success with songs such as ‘Willem’, ‘Alle golven’, ‘Speel eens voor mij’ and ‘Niet slecht bedoeld’. The group disbanded in 1981.

Alongside her activities as a performer, Sikora devoted herself primarily to music education. She was a dedicated and enthusiastic guitar teacher, notably at the Municipal Academy for Music and Word in Gellik. In this capacity she guided generations of young guitarists. Her short guitar piece ‘Daybreak’ has proved particularly inspiring for guitarists around the world. Sikora died in 2006 in her native city of Genk. Her life partner was Stanny Jans.