The American academic leaves after only three years citing “personal reasons”.

Dr Karl Kramer is to leave the Sydney Conservatorium of Music after only three years in post he announced on Friday. “I will be resigning my position as Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium effective July 17, 2015”, he wrote to colleagues in an email subsequently leaked to the classical music news site Slipped Disc. “For personal and family reasons, Jean and I will be returning to the United States,” he said, adding that “there will be a smooth and orderly transition over the next three months.”

Kramer was appointed Dean on a five-year contract in April 2012, and during his time in Sydney has overseen a series of academic staff changes as well as being involved in the planning and artistic direction of the Conservatorium’s proposed Centenary celebrations, including many events that presumably he will now not see come to fruition. In a staff and student email, Provost Stephen Garton took the opportunity to “thank Professor Kramer for his contribution and wish him well in his future endeavours”.

A respected American academic with several decades of educational experience, Kramer came to the job following the highly acrimonious and protracted departure of his predecessor, Kim Walker. Her tenure saw her accused of plagiarism and having misrepresented her qualifications by several senior colleagues. A subsequent university investigation exonerated Walker but after her controversial departure in 2012 she filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the University of Sydney, seeking damages for “loss of potential earnings and international reputation”.

Kramer’s relatively brief stewardship of Sydney’s premiere music school was also dogged, in his case by a bullying claim lodged against him by Nicole Dorigo, a language coach whose position was being made redundant. Whether that affair, one which saw Kramer forced to apologise for inappropriate use of language in emails, had any bearing on his decision is unclear.

“After 26 continuous years without a break of chairing, directing, and deaning in higher education, it is time for me to take a respite and consider my future plans,” he wrote. “I want to thank everyone in the faculty for their hard work and perseverance, for joining me in pursuing a vision of musical excellence, and for congealing into a unified and trusting staff to serve the students and our art. I am leaving the faculty in excellent shape artistically, and the morale of the school has improved markedly since my arrival.”

Sounding a warning note for the future he added that “there is still work to be done; however, our student body is incredibly talented, our academic staff is world-class in its teaching and research, our professional staff is expert, clever and indefatigable, and our building is in excellent logistical condition.” However, the leaking of his personal emails to a classical music gossip site suggests that collegiality isn’t entirely at a premium within ‘The Con’.

According to Garton, Head of School Professor Anna Reid has agreed to be the Acting Dean until the appointment of Kramer’s successor.