After controversial departures by the previous two Deans, will the third time be the charm for the music school?

The Sydney Conservatorium has announced the appointment of Professor Anna Reid as it’s new Dean. Reid has been acting head of the prestigious music school since her predecessor, Karl Kramer, suddenly resigned last April, citing “personal and family reasons.” Kramer’s departure was later revealed to be connected to $5000 of suspicious expenses allegedly claimed during his three years in the school’s top job. He was asked to resign or face dismissal. 

The Sydney Con will be hoping the third time’s the charm for its latest Dean appointment, as Kramer’s predecessor, American Bassoonist Kim Walker, also left the position under a cloud of controversy after a seven-year tenure dogged by allegations of plagiarism, mismanaged finances and suggestions of bully and intimidation. Walker filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Sydney Conservatorium in 2012 for defamation and loss of potential earnings, and while no formal statement regarding this litigation has ever been issued by the Con, Limelight understands from sources associated with the music school that a six-figure payout was settled with Walker privately and that the total...