The Board of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) is delighted to announce that Paavali Jumppanen will be extending his tenure as ANAM Artistic Director until the end of June 2026. Since commencing as ANAM Artistic Director in 2021, Paavali says the experience has been profoundly gratifying – both professionally and personally.
“Support and generosity demonstrated at every part of the organisation and from every member of the ANAM community has been truly heart-warming” says Paavali.
“It has been an honour to lead the artistic dimension of ANAM. The vision and the direction of the institution were incredibly strong already when I started. And, when ANAM announced my appointment, a friend congratulated me saying that ‘ANAM is the greatest school of music in the world’, he was right! But how to lead such a mission? Where to find that kind of insight? I have in fact found it most useful to try and let the great wisdom embedded in the ANAM fabric direct my work. I have felt it my duty to calibrate what the collective feels (or knows) about where it should be going, with what I sense about the needs and opportunities of the external music-world.”
Chair of the ANAM Board, John Daley said: “The Board is delighted that Paavali has agreed to extend his time at ANAM. Paavali has built on ANAM’s position as one of the world’s leading music academies. He has brought his exceptional skills as a performer and teacher, outstanding leadership of the faculty, and thoughtful and innovative programming”.
Paavali continued: "I am extremely motivated to continue as ANAM’s Artistic Director and I am grateful that we can work together until mid 2026. This means more years of music to curate, encounters with many more young musicians and future colleagues, brainstorming with faculty and the program team, countless long days and evenings working on programs in my office at the Abbotsford Convent, rehearsals, classes, meetings, and ANAM performances… many, many more of those wonderful ANAM responsibilities that fill this incredible institution."
Paavali has indicated that he would like to step down as Artistic Director in 2026, and the Board will shortly commence the search for an Artistic Director to continue Paavali’s work at ANAM from mid 2026.
The position of ANAM Artistic Director is generously supported by Janet Holmes à Court AC, and John and Rosemary Macleod
Find out more about Paavali Jumppanen
