«What I like most about Prof. Raya is his energy and his «pushiness.» Some teachers are very gentle and let you go at your own pace, but he is different. He pushes you, and at first it can feel a bit intense! But he does it in a way that makes you want to dream bigger. He challenges you to practice more and to not accept mediocrity.

One thing I’m really grateful for is that he introduced me to Coosje Wijzenbeek (teacher of Janine Jansen). At such a young age, having access to a teacher like her was incredible. She helped me build a strong foundation, and I learned so much from her. He knew exactly what I needed at each stage, and he connected me with the right teachers to help me grow when he left.
He was the one who encouraged me to do my first competitions, some I won, some I didn’t do as well in, but they all helped me develope as a musician.

Even now (living in a different country), I still take masterclasses with him whenever I can. Every time I work with him, I leave thinking, «Okay, I need to practice more!» In a good way. He still has that same energy and passion, and he still pushes me to be better. He reminds me why I love playing the violin.

I was very lucky to find on my way a teacher like him who cares about his students’ development and isn’t afraid to demand the best from them.»