Born in 1931 Tuckwell studied at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney and played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and then the Halle and other British orchestras.  From 1955 to 1968 he was first horn with the London Symphony Orchestra and featured as soloist in during this period. 
He has conducted many international orchestras, and became conductor of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in 1982, and was Professor of Horn at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1963-1974. Now retired he lives in Victoria, Australia