The Germany-based Australian oboist will take the reins of the prestigious institution from 2016.

Just days after the revelation that local residents were attempting to have the prestigious music school evicted from its current home at South Melbourne Town Hall, some good news for the Australian National Academy of Music with the announcement of Paul Dean’s successor as Artistic Director: Germany-based Australian oboist Nick Deutsch.

Chair of ANAM Ian McRea said of the appointment, “Nick is an incomparable musician, someone from whom our musicians will learn much, and gain huge inspiration. He has worked with the world’s greatest artists, sat in prestigious European orchestras and performed as a soloist for 20 years, and he will bring this impeccable experience to ANAM and to our musicians”.

Nick Deutsch will begin his tenure as Artistic Director in auspicious style at 2016 Season Opening concert on March 5. In a poetically symbolic piece of programming Deutsch will deliver the world premiere of a new oboe concerto composed for him by outgoing Artistic Director Paul Dean, accompanied by the ANAM Orchestra under the baton of brilliant young Spanish conductor Antonio Mendez.

“ANAM is perhaps one of the...