GUYANESE-born professional concert pianist, Ray Luck makes his living travelling the world to entertain, whilst using his expertise and experience to teach young students and piano teachers. Ray was born and raised in Georgetown, where he went to Smith Church Congregational Primary School, from whence he graduated onto Queen’s College, leaving school at age 18. Thereafter, he went to study music in London and Paris, before moving on to study in the United States of America.
He started playing the piano when he was just six years old; and despite excelling in Mathematics at Queen’s College, decided to pursue music as a career. He thought he was going to be happier going down this path, since he found himself playing the piano very well, and loving it.
“That’s why I went to study in the Royal College of Music in London and then in USA — so I could devote my complete life to making music and being a concert pianist.”
Ray had won a prize back in 1967; and this, he recalled, was a stepping stone for a professional career, travelling and teaching.
In London, he studied at the Royal College of Music, obtaining the ARCM with Honours teaching diploma and
B. Mus Honours degree from the University of London.
In further graduate studies, he was awarded first prizes in Piano and Chamber Music from the Paris Conservatoire, and D. Mus degree with high distinction from Indiana University at Bloomington.
During a distinguished teaching career at Randolph College in Virginia, Ray was the Charles A. Dana Professor of Music, and subsequently appointed professor emeritus in 2002.

Distinguished pianist
Information on his website, rayluck.com, indicates that Ray has performed in concerts and recitals in several musical capitals of the world. He has held concerts on four continents, given master classes at prestigious music schools, and adjudicated music festivals in the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, and the Caribbean.
His professional teaching awards include three Fulbright Senior Fellowships to the Caribbean, Greece and Canada, and the Master Teacher Certificate from the Music Teachers National Association (USA).

Honours
In 1992, Ray was appointed a Member of the Order of Service of Guyana and awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour for outstanding achievements in music.
In 2010, he was guest artist at the International Piano Forum and Music Festival in Rhodes, and the Axia Music Festival in Naxos, Greece. He was also adjudicator of the senior piano classes at the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival in Alberta, Canada.
Ray is now settled in St. Petersburg, Florida, and uses this location as a base for his world tours. He comes often to Guyana to conduct piano workshops for music teachers and their students, and is content with the response he has been getting here.
He recently returned from Florida for a five-day workshop, and the Chronicle was fortunate to secure an interview with him just before he left these shores on Friday. He had paid a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President the previous day.

Music lover
Asked why he so loves playing the piano, Ray responded: “It’s something that cannot be explained; it’s something that is revealed. Probably as a young child, you are drawn to a particular musical instrument, and if you’re lucky to be given the chance to have lessons, a teacher recognizes the talent and encourages you; and you grow up playing that instrument until you realize, ‘Yes! It’s possible that one can devote one’s life and make a career!’”
“And in my case,” he said, “I was fortunate that, in my life, my parents supported me in the idea that I can make music a lifetime pursuit.
“It doesn’t matter what instrument you pursue. Singing is the most basic form of musical expression, and we all have a voice in which, mentally, we can sing an ideal song in our heads, which we can then transmit through our instrument — in my case, the piano.”
Reflecting on his time in Guyana, he said he was invited by the government to hold these local workshops, and that the young students who played for him were very articulate and very talented.
“The talent (in Guyana) is as high as the talent when I was a child. I’m here, though, to help teachers, because I feel that teachers — particularly in the higher grade — need the type of advanced teaching that would help them to help their students.
I feel teachers do very well with the lower grade students, and that my expertise can be used to help them to help their more advanced students.”
For last year, he had about 50 persons participating in the workshop; and for this year, about 40. He may also be back next year, he says.

‘Find your niche’
Ray’s desire is to continue sharing his expertise and professional knowledge, so that the next generation can benefit from his experiences.
For those interested in choosing a field similar to his, he advises that they work hard and get the best advice and help from teachers.
“And be ready for any opportunities that might present themselves for you to further your studies and further your experience,” he admonishes.
Ray stressed the importance of loving what you do for work. “It doesn’t matter what you end up doing in life, you should do something that you love dearly, that you love passionately. Follow your passion, whatever it may be.
“Find your niche in life and be the best at what you know you can do well. You will have a satisfying and rewarding life. In the course of that, you will be helping and inspiring others.”