Chair of the CMNC Leigh Vaughan said the high quality of applications made for a hard decision, but felt that Mr Scott was the perfect candidate to address the aims for the coming year.

Mr Scott will work to encourage community and school engagement across Great Lakes, Greater Taree and Port Macquarie Hastings, accredit music tutors, work with existing community ensembles that are to become formally affiliated with CMNC and complete an application to the NSW Association of Regional Conservatoriums to secure recurrent funding.

“We had many applications from all over Australia, but we are absolutely thrilled that Michael has accepted the position,” Ms Vaughan said.

“Michael Scott is one of Australia’s foremost music educators and performers, as well as having a solid background in conservatorium administration and financial management.”

Ms Vaughan said Mr Scott is uniquely qualified to take on the challenges to develop a new conservatorium with a distinguished career as performer and teacher. He has had previous experience in the management of a large university department that comprised over 30 staff and 300 students.

He also brings many years experience from the private sector as an accredited financial services specialist and market analyst.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to be working on the creation of a new Regional Conservatorium of Music from the ground up,” Mr Scott said.

“I’m very much looking forward to meeting and working together with the many local musicians, music teachers, and students. It’s also an exciting prospect to be relocating from Sydney to such a beautiful part of the world as the Mid North Coast.”

Funded by a grant from Department of Education and Training, the position is supported by Arts Mid North Coast and Mid North Coast TAFE and will work to establish the conservatorium from scratch.