Raya Marinova, founder

I love seeing my students blossom into young artists

Raya has mentored and produced multiple prizewinning young pianists. Raya's students are recipients of highly competitive music scholarships and regularly win top prizes in piano competitions.  Her students consistently pass graded exams with distinction, all through the Diploma level.

Raya earned her bachelor’s degree in music (magna cum laude) in 2009 from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, one of the highest-ranking music schools in the United States, where she studied with internationally renowned pianist and pedagogue Bernadene Blaha. Raya had additional studies with acclaimed pianists and teachers Antoinette Perry and Jim McCormick, and received coaching from Earl Wild, known as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th Century. Raya's musical lineage traces to Franz Liszt through several of her teachers.

With numerous solo and chamber music performances, including live radio broadcasts, Raya has appeared in venues such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Zipper Hall, and Mayman Hall in Los Angeles, California. Recipient of multiple awards, Raya has also acted as a piano competition adjudicator in Los Angeles.

Raya relocated to Christchurch in 2019.  Raya provides rigorous training to dedicated pianists of all levels. Having tackled some of the most difficult repertoire in standard piano literature herself, Raya is able to effectively guide her students in developing and advancing healthy technique, deepening their musicianship, and refining their artistry.