New director for Nelson’s ‘musical treasure’

A new director has taken over at the Nelson Centre for Musical Arts (NCMA) and he’s ready to oversee a new era for the iconic institution.

Before Myles Payne began as the centre’s education manager he served as a teacher for 25 years, sharing his life-long passion for music.

He describes his time of teaching children and watching them progress in skill over the course of their school life as “inspiring”.

“I’ve had some fantastic students who’ve gone on to do wonderful things, so I find all that very rewarding,” he says.

But he shifted to the NCMA two years ago, drawn by its broader scope of teaching music to babies, nonagenarians, and everyone in between. In his role as education manager, he’s helped to usher in “record-setting” growth in adult education numbers, climbing from about 500 to 880 last year.

“[The NCMA] is actually doing fantastic work,” he says. “It was the most engagement we’ve had ever in its 130-year history, so we’re definitely not broken.”

Recent public discussion about the NCMA has largely taken place within the context of its financial challenges, with the possible remission of the centre’s debt to Nelson City Council surfacing several times, and a donation drive last year to try and plug a $250,000 funding shortfall.

While Myles’s immediate mission was to continue stabilising the NCMA’s financial situation, he says he is confident that the centre is heading in the right direction with its growth.

“We’re actually doing some amazing things, and we still need the support of the community. We’re using that support wisely and carefully to grow and build on what’s already been achieved,” he says.

“We’ve still got more work to do, and we are concentrating on streamlining our processes, freeing up more manpower to be able to market more effectively what we offer.”

Long-term, Myles wants to continue growing the centre’s foundation so that its interest eventually secures the future of the foundation “for the next hundred years”.

“I’m excited about what I can do to help make those plans come to fruition.”
But in the meantime, Myles will continue to ensure the NCMA offers “remarkable” musical opportunities to all in the city through its wide variety of classes and concerts.

“It is a real little musical treasure, this place, and people love it. I think that’s one of the reasons why it will always be here, because so many people care.”
Myles takes over from James Donaldson who was director of the NCMA for seven years.