ANAM ANNOUNCES TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS: John Daley AM as Chair of the ANAM Board, and Sophie Rowell as Head of Chamber Music (strings).
[Photo: John Daley AM / Sophie Rowell]
The Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) has announced John Daley AM, one of Australia’s leading public policy thinkers, as Chairman of ANAM’s Board of Directors. John will commence the position in 2020 as the successor of Ian McRae who has been ANAM’s Chairman for the past 11 years.
John Daley AM said: "I am excited to take on the responsibility of Chair of ANAM. It's a privilege to lead a genuinely collegiate board that combines a wide variety of perspectives, deep skills in management and the arts, and a universal passion for training the next generation of Australia's great musicians.
“I will be trying to fill big shoes. Under Ian's leadership, ANAM has become increasingly international, building links with the world's leading music schools and academies, and attracting many of the world's leading musicians to work with ANAM's musicians. It has become increasingly part of Australian music, with its musicians regularly playing side-by-side in performances with Australia's symphony and chamber orchestras. And it has become increasingly part of the fabric of its South Melbourne community, providing stimulating musical experiences for its audiences."
Ian McRae said: "The opportunity to be part of the ANAM family over the past 11 years has been absolutely wonderful for me – and I have loved every minute of it. To have such access to the energy, dedication and talent of everyone at the academy – musicians, management, staff and faculty – has been a rich and precious experience, for which I am immensely grateful.
“ANAM is fortunate to have John Daley as its next Chair, leading the Academy into its exciting next chapter."
ANAM has also announced the appointment of violinist and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Sophie Rowell to the newly created position of Head of Chamber Music (strings). “Chamber music sits at the centre of the ANAM training program”, said ANAM Artistic Director Nick Deutsch. “And we are delighted that Sophie Rowell, one of the country’s most experienced chamber musicians, has agreed to take on this important role at ANAM. In 2020, to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, we will be presenting performances of the composers complete string quartets, together with quartets from our international partner institutions. We are thrilled to have Sophie in this role to steer this ambitious artistic undertaking”.
Sophie Rowell said: “I’m very excited to take on this new role as Head of Chamber Music (strings). Chamber music, in particular the string quartet, has always been a passion of mine. It is a dream come true for me to work with the young musicians at ANAM in this genre, especially with the thrilling prospect of culminating in the Beethoven Quartet cycle, in my opinion, one of the great pinnacles of classical music. I can’t wait!”
Ian McRae AO who has been Chair of ANAM’s Board for over 10 years will be stepping down from the role at the end of our 2019 Season. Click here to read more about Ian’s valued guidance during his ANAM tenure.