Russell Bauer will leave his position as CEO of the New England Conservatorium of Music next month, owing to concerns over his wife's health, it was announced earlier this week.
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Mr Bauer will depart in the week of July 15. He came to Armidale two years ago. Earlier this year, he had committed to stay until December, and then follow his family back to Brisbane.
His wife Janine began a new position with a large company in March, but her health has been poor since May.
"I went back to Brisbane to be her carer two weeks ago," Mr Bauer said. "Her health has improved, but there are still some concerns. I had to make a difficult decision to relocate back to Brisbane sooner rather than later."
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Mrs Bauer's condition is not life-threatening, but she is suffering several health issues at once, her husband said.
Mr Bauer's predecessor, Susanne James, will serve as interim director. She was the head of NECOM for six years until her retirement in March 2017.
"With Susanne kindly agreeing to help us out in this way," Mr Bauer said, "her wealth of experience in managing this Conservatorium will mean business-as-usual for the dozens of programs run by NECOM. Because she can start the day after I finish, it will be a seamless transition."
Mr Bauer reassured the Armidale public that the Man from Snowy River concert on October 11 will go ahead as planned.
"Even though I will live and work back in Brisbane," he said, "I will maintain a strong focus on this show, because it has been 15 months in the planning. By the time I leave in a few weeks from now, we will have all contractors and suppliers locked in. My commitment is still to come back for all the rehearsals, and to be here for the entire week of the Snowy River concert."
NECOM will present the entire much-loved 1982 Australian film with a 75-piece symphony orchestra playing the music.
Mr Bauer has orchestrated the entire soundtrack himself, with the blessing of its composer, Bruce Rowland. Mr Rowland and actor Tom Burlinson will be the special guests of the night. After the film, Mr Burlinson, an accomplished jazz vocalist, will join the orchestra to perform an hour of Frank Sinatra songs.
The event is a long-cherished dream for Mr Bauer. Six years ago, while teaching at Brisbane's Sheldon College, he presented the last 20 minutes of the film with a live orchestra.
"At that point," he said, "I realised I would like to show the entire film. That opportunity is being realised now down here in Armidale."
Mr Bauer said he looked forward to seeing how the residents of Armidale and New England enjoyed the event. He was thrilled that hundreds of people from further across the state, and even interstate - north Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria - had already booked.
Mr Bauer came to Armidale in June 2017. He described his time here as fantastic.
"It's been great to be back in a community where music and the arts, and education in general, are at the forefront," he said. "People here embrace the arts, and that feeling permeates right through the community. Even if it's simply a primary school choir learning songs for a concert, there's a real love and passion."
Mr Bauer made it clear from his first few weeks here that he would engage with the public as much as possible. He screened Charlie Chaplin classics with live piano soundtracks he performed himself; staged regular concerts at NECOM; and entered floats in the New England and Autumn Festivals.
"To that extent, I'm really happy how the community has responded - whether that is the silent movie nights, the tours of the building, or different ways that we might present ensemble concerts," he said.
Mr Bauer said he had thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the region and its outstanding people.
"There's something quite unique about this region, its people, and its culture, and I'm really going to miss that when I move back to Queensland," he said.