A constant trait in Rafa Roca’s trajectory with the piano has been his ecclecticism and musical variety, values that he acquired at the beginning of his relationship with the instrument thanks to professor Jorge de la Torre, who trained him from a young age in both modern and classical music, and taught him not to say “no” to any music genre.
Rafa attended the Conservatori del Liceu at Barcelona for his junior and bachelor studies, under the teaching of proffessors Benjamí Santacana, Llorenç Reboud, Daniel Ligorio and Raimon Garriga.
In the chamber music field he has worked with Manel Valdivieso, Alan James Branch and Benjamin Davies. He has broadened his knowledge attending music history and production courses offered by Harvard and Berklee’s online departments; and participatin in masterclasses and courses by pianists such as Ashley Wass, Noriko Ogawa, Marianna Prjevalskaya, John Byrne, Oleg Marsev and Vadim Gladkov.
He has always mantained an active agenda, allowing him to perform in very diverse scenarios, such as his concert in Axa Auditorium as a part of the Gaudilart festival (dedicated to the oeuvre of Antoni Gaudí), participating in Sant Cugat’s 15th National Poetry Festival with a concert- homage to the poet Francesc Garriga, the inauguration of Rubí’s 25th Chamber Music Festival, or solo recitals at the Parés art gallery and the Sant Jordi’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, both in Barcelona.
Thanks to the open mentality that helped him start his career, he has been able to accept projects outside the classical world, like starting the band Porbou, performing for the Barcelona Manga Convention or even an improvisation with Chick Corea during one of his concerts.
In addition to being performer, he’s also a disseminator that encourages society to keep in touch with music, through charitable concerts in small venues or spaces like nursing homes; or educational events in schools. He is also a professor at Instituto de Música Online, where he has also created the Sherlock Notes section, dedicated to the publication of articles centered on highlighting underrated music.