Churches, a cathedral and an art gallery will echo with classical violin music this month when four talented violinists from the University of Canterbury's School of Music hit the road on a 10-concert tour during July.
Quartz Violinists Rakuto Kurano, Henry Nicholson, Mekaela Fleener, and Aya McLarty.
The tour includes a concert in the Ōtautahi Christchurch Arts Centre Great Hall, just metres from the music studios where the violinists perfected the programme.
IMPRESSIONS will be performed by Rakuto Kurano, Henry Nicholson, Mekaela Fleener, and Aya McLarty of the QUARTZ violin quartet with the concert featuring a newly commissioned work by University of Canterbury (UC) School of Music student Oscar Kersey alongside music by Telemann, Bohm, Hofmann, Dancla, Massa, Kurano.
Head of Performance at UC Professor Mark Menzies, says he is very proud of the musicians' accomplishments.
"These four violinists are at the start of what will no doubt be meaningful careers in music and as violinists.
"The selection of music is a colourful representation of old and new, and promises to make up a highly enticing and engaging programme," Menzies says.
This is violinist Rakuto Kurano's third national tour this year, but this time he is taking on the roles of tour manager and artistic director as well as performer.
"Luckily I have been able to take part in numerous national tours in the last few years. This time, I wanted to organise one myself, now that I have a better understanding of how it all works," Kurano says.
Tour supporters include the Magic Carpet Music Trust, a charitable trust Kurano recently co-founded with former New Zealand Director of the Royal Over-Seas League Lyn Milne. The Trust aims to provide young musicians with more performance opportunities and to bring music to smaller communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
"Live classical music brought to people in their own community by young musicians can change the way they connect with this wonderful genre forever," Milne says.
IMPRESSIONS is supported by the University of Canterbury's School of Music and will tour to Timaru, Wanaka, Dunedin, Oamaru, Waimate, Ashburton, Christchurch, Moana, Porirua, and Greytown.
Tickets are available on Eventfinda and more information about the tour can be found here.
