Rakuto kurano

MMus, MusB (Hons), LTCL, ATCL, AIRMT, MNZIM

Described as a musician with “flair and panache” by the Christchurch Mail, Rakuto Kurano has established himself as a versatile Japanese/New Zealand performer, composer, director, and educator.

As a multi-award-winning musical artist, he has completed over 200 performances around New Zealand in the last three years, therefore ranking himself as one of New Zealand's most active touring artists.

An extremely versatile multi-instrumentalist; he is the only musician that has professionally toured around New Zealand performing on violin, viola, piano, baroque violin, and baroque viola.

He made his composer debut in 2016 with his composition Angelic Glow – which was selected as a winning work in the NZ Harp Duo composition competition. In 2019, his piece Fantail in Tokyo was selected as a winning work in the NZTrio composition competition, and premiered by the NZTrio in Auckland.

In January 2021, he was commissioned by the Baroque Music Community and Educational Trust of New Zealand to compose Concerto Grosso, a baroque-style work for three soloists, string ensemble, and harpsichord. The work was the final piece in the programme on a 11-concert national tour and was met with a standing ovation in every concert. It was deemed a “splendid work” by Peter Mechen for Middle-C, in review of its Wellington performance. In 2023, Concerto Grosso was performed by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with him featuring as a soloist.

As an advocate of contemporary music, he has performed as a violinist, violist, and pianist at the International Society of Contemporary Music & Asian Composers League double festival (2022) and the Composers Association of New Zealand Nelson workshop (2019 & 2020). Kurano has personally funded and commissioned works by seven young New Zealand composers to date.

Kurano's interest in early music has led to studying Historically Informed Performance Practice (HIPP) of baroque music. This passion has translated into performing concertos and sonatas by over 45 unique baroque composers and also studying the harpsichord at university.

Orchestral experiences include joining the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at the age of 18, performing with NZ Opera, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Hawke's Bay Orchestra, and the Secret Sinfonia.

Musical Theatre credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, and Next to Normal; the latter with The Court Theatre - New Zealand’s largest theatre company.

As a recording artist, he has recorded and released many of his own works, but also has experience playing in recordings for other artists, including UK singers Aled Jones and Russell Watson with the BMG label (UK).

He studied piano with the late Rosemary Stott QSM and was awarded an Licentiate of Trinity College London in 2017.

He currently serves as Artistic Director of the Magic Carpet Music Trust and is a Strategic Advisor for counterpointe ballet school.