Rakuto Kurano

Reviewed as a musician with “flair and panache” by the Christchurch Mail, Rakuto Kurano has established himself as a versatile Japanese/New Zealand Performer-Composer.

As a multi award-winning performer and composer, he has appeared in many concert halls across the country. Overseas appearances include performances in Japan and Vietnam.

As an active performer on the violin, viola, and piano, he currently averages 60 performances each year. Repertoire ranges from anything written in the Renaissance period (14th century) to music by young living composers.

Kurano 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, and was performed by the NZ Harp Duo for their concert series in Wellington and Lower Hutt. Stephen Gibbs called it a “charming work” in a review for DMS Review Blog.

In 2019, his piece Fantail in Tokyo was selected as a winning work in the NZTrio composition competition, and performed by the NZTrio in Auckland. The work was recorded and released the following year by Mark Menzies, Tomas Hurnik, and Rakuto himself. The recording has been broadcast by Radio New Zealand on numerous occasions following the release.

Since the beginning of his university studies, he has been intensively studying historically authentic Baroque playing styles, and has performed music by over 40 unique Baroque composers to date. In 2020, he toured the country on Baroque viola with international Baroque specialists Szabolcs Illés and Edita Keglerová on an eight-concert national tour. He also has experience participating in a masterclass with world-renown Baroque violinist Sigiswald Kuijken.

In January 2021, he was commissioned by the Baroque Music Community and Educational Trust of New Zealand to compose Concerto Grosso, a neo-baroque style work for three soloists, string ensemble + harpsichord for the 2021 Baroque summer workshop and 11-concert national tour. The work was the final piece in the programme, 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.

As a devotee of contemporary music, he has commissioned three young New Zealand composers – Liam Furey, Georgina Palmer, and Robin Watson, for his 2021 national solo concert tour. In both 2019 and 2020, he was invited to the CANZ (Composers Association of New Zealand) Nelson workshop as a violinist/violist to workshop and perform new works written by living New Zealand composers.

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).

Orchestral experiences include joining the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at the age of 18, playing with NZ Opera, Royal New Zealand Ballet, a series of guest concertmaster appearances with the Secret Sinfonia, and leading musicals (Fiddler on the Roof & Chicago). As a conductor, he has been involved with conducting choirs, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra, and various ensembles.

He graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2020 with a Bachelor of Music, studying with Professor Mark Menzies, Dr. Reuben de Lautour, and Dr. Justin DeHart.