Latest News

The Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) is pleased to announce the appointments of Ian Munro (pianist and composer), Howard Penny (cello) and William Hennessy to the artistic team.

The distinguished musicians will join Alice Waten (violin), Rita Reichmann (piano), Margaret Crawford (Winds) and Timothy Young (piano) in developing the outstanding teaching and performance programs at Australia’s national centre for musical excellence.

‘I am very proud to secure the talents of these Australian musicians, all who have made indelible marks on the international and national music scenes. Munro, Penny and Hennessy are musicians with visionary qualities who will build on the stellar achievements of our academy faculty,' said Brett Dean (Artistic Director, ANAM). 
'Their combined experiences in chamber music, contemporary exposition, solo recital and teaching will inspire and steer Australia’s best and brightest musicians to explore ever greater heights' he said.

William Hennessy has made over two hundred solo appearances with Australian orchestras. He was founder/leader of the Australian String Quartet (1985-1996) and was founding deputy leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and founder/ director of the Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players. Formerly Head of strings at the Faculty of Music at The University of Melbourne Hennessy has coached more than half the finalists in the last two Australian National Chamber Music Competitions.

Ian Munro comes to ANAM as one of Australia’s most awarded pianists with a career that has taken him to thirty countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia. His awards include the 2003 Premier Grand Prix at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition for composition (Belgium), following on from multiple prizes in international piano competitions in Spain (Maria Canals), Italy (Busoni), Portugal (Vianna de Motta) and the UK (Leeds International Piano Competition). Munro was Head of Piano at the Tasmanian Conservatorium (1995 - 1999) and is a member of the renowned Australia Ensemble resident at the University of New South Wales.

Howard Penny was principal cello with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and has been a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 1989, performing with the world's leading conductors and soloists. Concerto appearances have included performances in Vienna's Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Schauspielhaus in Berlin, Tokyo's Suntory Hall as well as the Casals Festival in Prades. He is presently a Professor of cello at the Mozarteum (Salzburg). 

 
Further information: www.anam.com.au
Australian National Academy of Music