Sydney piano student speaks of abuse

The prestigious Australian Institute of Music was wrong to allow a teacher to stay on after he was twice charged with child sex offences, the school's executive dean and a former principal have admitted.

One piano student was 13 when, in mid-2002, his abuse at the hands of convicted pedophile Victor Makarov began, the child abuse royal commission has heard.

For the next 18 months the survivor was persistently assaulted during lessons at AIM and inside an insulated studio at his abuser's home.

What started as a kiss on the head or words of affection escalated to forced masturbation and sodomy, the commission heard in a hearing in Sydney on Thursday.

"At the time, I just thought it was part and parcel of what I had to do to become a successful concert pianist," the survivor said.

"Music was the most important thing in my life and I was ready to sacrifice myself for it."

It wasn't until the survivor's mother received word that another of Makarov's students had been assaulted that his own story came out.

The survivor confronted Makarov inside his Pymble home, with his parents by his side.

"I told Makarov that what he had done was wrong and that I pitied him because he was sick, a pedophile and a madman," he said.

"I told him that he had not conquered me, despite the fact that he had tried to."

His father felt betrayed by Makarov and let down by AIM once the allegations came to light in early 2004.

"My feelings were confirmed when Makarov was allowed to continue teaching even though he was arrested twice," the man told the commission.

"And when (AIM principal) Dr (Raffaele) Marcellino and (director) Dr (Peter) Calvo provided glowing references for Makarov at his trial."

The man said he couldn't speak highly enough of how police and prosecutors responded, but criticised the "bureaucratic" response of other officials.

Dr Marcellino, who was a part-time principal in 2004, said Makarov was temporarily suspended when the allegations were first made.

He said both he and Dr Calvo were unsure of extending the suspension because of conflicting advice on the legal implications.

The commission heard AIM had received verbal advice from the NSW Ombudsman that it was highly unlikely Makarov would bring civil proceedings against the institute if he was suspended.

But Dr Marcellino said they were still unsure because Dr Calvo had received legal advice that AIM were not in the position to suspend Makarov.

"It was, in reflection, a misconceived position," he said.

AIM executive dean Ian Bofinger, who started with the institute after Makarov was jailed, also said the allegations were poorly handled.

Professor Bofinger confirmed senior staff were made aware of serious accusations against Makarov.

"I think to protect the students he should have been suspended, at least on full pay," Prof Bofinger said.

Instead, another person who made child sex allegations and took out a protection order against Makarov was suspended, so that the two wouldn't come into contact.

Makarov continued teaching at AIM until he voluntarily took leave in July 2004 and continued teaching students until he was convicted in December that year.

Both Dr Marcellino and Prof Bofinger said that in 2004, AIM was unprepared and uninformed about dealing with child abuse allegations, and had inadequate and insufficient processes in place.

The public hearing continues in Sydney on Friday.