About The Magic Carpet Music Trust
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The Magic Carpet Music Trust was formed in May 2022 by Lyn Milne and Rakuto Kurano.
We aim to promote music throughout rural communities in New Zealand's South Island, while providing young musicians and composers with performance experience and career development opportunities. |
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Our Trust Board
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Lyn Milne, MNZM
Chairperson, Philanthropy and Partnerships Portfolio Lyn’s passion for promoting music began while working for The Royal Over-Seas League in London. Their extensive Annual Music Competition attracted up to 400 entries with the Final Night often attended by Royalty, offering four young finalists prize money and performance opportunities. This was a catalyst for many recently trained musicians who were yet to gain experience on the stage. It was an eye-opener. On returning to New Zealand in 1995, Lyn had the opportunity to organise concerts during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Auckland. The keen young students who performed at the official events were an instant hit. They were wonderful ambassadors for New Zealand, spending time talking to the overseas delegates who were charmed by their talent. Lyn served as the New Zealand Director of the Royal Over-Seas League for more than 25 years, before moving to Wanaka. During this period, she was instrumental in the formation of the Pettman Junior Academy & the ROSL/Pettman Chamber Music Scholarship. The Scholarship offered University students a four-day workshop with London based ROSL prize-winners. They then competed for the Scholarship which took the winning chamber ensemble to the UK for a fully-funded trip. Masterclasses, attending Music Festivals, performances with other musicians at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and hearing London’s major orchestras were just a few of their opportunities. The visiting tutors were major ROSL UK prize-winners. They then toured the country often giving charity concerts which broadened their audience base. Lyn was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her service to the arts in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours. |
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Rakuto Kurano
Artistic Director 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. A multi-award-winning musical artist, he has completed over 200 performances around New Zealand in the last three years, ranking as one of New Zealand's most active touring artists. As a composer, he has had works performed by ensembles such as NZTrio, NZ Harp Duo, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and many of his recordings are available online. 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 workshops (2019 & 2020). Kurano has also personally funded and commissioned works by seven young New Zealand composers to date. He graduated in 2023 with a Master of Music degree from the University of Canterbury and is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the Aspiring Lifestyle Village in Wanaka. |
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Heather Milne
Marketing and Communications Portfolio Heather has worked in communications and marketing in the not-for-profit and community sectors for over twenty years. She lives in Christchurch with her husband and two children. Her interest in the arts stems from her 'ballet life' as a child and teen, then teaching ballet after the Canterbury earthquakes. She grew up in an arty family where the value of music is recognised and celebrated. Heather is the founder of The Christchurch Aunties, a charitable trust supporting women and children who have experienced family violence and vulnerability. She also established a Kaupapa Māori programme to support Tāne called The Brotherhood for He Waka Tapu. Heather now works as a communications consultant and photographer, documenting social and environmental change, and shared community experiences. Her work is shown in exhibitions around the world. She is also a Trustee at New Horizons for Women: Hine Kahukura - a charitable trust that provides annual scholarships to women from all walks of life who are in tertiary study and research. |
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Johanna Wright
Treasurer, Finance Portfolio I have lived in the Southern Lakes for 22 years. My husband and I moved home from London after completing a three year OE. Shortly after arriving home we started a family and I left working full time to become the mother of two wonderful children (now 21 and 16), and continue my career part-time from home providing accounting services to local businesses. I have always loved music. I grew up in a house of music as my mother was a violinist. She was either playing classical music or the Seekers, which shows my age! My love of music has been passed down to our children. Our son Daniel (16) is an amateur pianist, with a small amount of training and 13 years playing by ear. He has an incredible ear for music. We put that down to some music genes but also to countless hours we played music while he was a baby with our daughter who has a learning disability but loves music. Music transcends languages and abilities and speaks to our hearts. I am honoured to be involved with the Magic Carpet Music Trust to bring music to the regions. |
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Janine Banbury
Trustee Janine resides in the coastal suburb of Sumner, Christchurch, where she enjoys beachside living and being part of the local community. She finds solace in beach walks and has a passion for exploring destinations abroad. With family at the core, Janine loves spending time with her two adult daughters, frequently visiting them in their respective homes in Wellington and Melbourne. With a background in the health sector, Janine’s journey ventured into entrepreneurship, where she co-established and managed several small businesses. Janine was the co-founder and co-owner of Campbell Grant Galleries, a contemporary dealer art gallery in Christchurch, fostering connections between established and emerging New Zealand artists for over a decade. Janine's dedication to community development is evident in her proactive role as a founding committee member of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway Group (CCPG), a transformative initiative that contributed to the completion of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway. Her commitment to enhancing the city's recreational and cultural landscape reflects her vision for a vibrant community. In her capacity on the board, Janine brings business expertise and a passionate commitment to nurturing the aspirations of young musicians. Her advocacy for empowering the next generation to pursue and achieve their musical dreams resonates deeply, reflecting her dedication to the arts. |