Long-serving CCC member June Knight works mostly behind the scenes, helping to provide access to opportunities for young musicians and lovers of the arts. June serves as the CCC’s Project Manager for Music Lessons and Development, is part of its Cultural Programmes team, and sits on the Steering Committee. Her journey into the arts stems from a lifelong relationship with music, prioritising passion over performance. In this conversation, she reflects on fairness as a guiding value and what happens when instruments reach new hands, among other things. Read the full Q&A below for her reflections.
Q&A
1. Describe yourself in three words or fewer.
Humanist
2. Tell us about your journey into music. What pivotal experience shaped your approach?
I’m not a musician but have always loved music and live music especially jazz and hard rock.
3. If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and why?
The ability to distribute resources justly and fairly as they were needed.
4. This is not your day job, tell us a little more about yourself, where are you from and what do you do when you’re not involved in the CCC?
I’m originally from Jozi and stayed here after studying at UCT. At the moment I’m working in Real Estate.
5. What song best describes your personality?
Not so much a description of my personality but one I think of as an anthem:
Talking about a Revolution by Tracy Chapman
6. What’s the most memorable project you’ve been part of or your most memorable experience?
I think the first of the FHR-sponsored community concerts we did, taking place in Bonteheuwel. The way people came together to make a wonderful day happen was truly special, especially as the funding arrived at the last minute.
Some of the most memorable experiences are putting instruments in the hands of young musicians, seeing how they light up at the possibilities ahead
7. How do you get inspired when you feel stuck creatively?
Just remind myself of the Why. Why we do the things we do, which is to make the world better than we found it, even in just a small way.
8. How do you think the arts can bring people together?
When people have fun together, they realise how much they have in common and how much they share, that’s one step toward bridging divides.
The arts also allows us to see people, to begin to understand someone else’s story, to see the world from someone else’s perspective.
9. What’s one thing you wish more people knew about CCC?
How many people are working together to make things happen.
10. What do you enjoy most about being involved in the CCC?
The wonderful people I’ve met and worked with.
11. What’s one piece of advice you received as a young person that still guides you?
Helen Joseph told a group of us young activists in the 80s that we always had a choice. It might be a very difficult choice, but you always had one. We always have a choice.
