Two Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students listened as their new compositions were performed by a virtuoso string quartet a week ago (Friday May 27) at the Aspiring Lifestyle Village. 

Tane Haines and Tao Hawkey-Hight have been tutored by Rakuto Kurano, the first recipient of the village’s artists’ residency.

Rakuto, from the University of Canterbury, has been working on his Master of Music thesis and sharing his musical passions with the Aspiring Lifestyle Village residents and the wider Wānaka community, including tutoring MAC students.

“I was so glad I could see the boys’ eyes light up in the open rehearsal hearing their pieces come to life for the first time,” Rakuto said.

Tane’s composition The Grass and the Kids, and Tao’s String Quartet were recorded and then performed in the village’s anniversary concert (a year after Rakuto performed his first solo performance at the village), between works by Elgar and Haydn.

“There is something so special about hearing your own composition live for the first time,” Rakuto said.

“If I had not had the opportunity to hear my composition being performed by the NZ Harp Duo (Michelle Velvin and Jennifer Newth) back in 2016, I would probably not be composing today. I am so glad we could give the boys this same experience.”

Read more: Artists’ residency announced for Aspiring Lifestyle Village

Rakuto has now formed The Magic Carpet Music Trust and looks forward to more local initiatives.

PHOTO: Supplied