Le secret

José Retra (°1962) won the Vic Nees composition competition in the category of conservatories. Retra is a music pedagogue and since 2021 a composition student at LUCA, School of Arts Campus Leuven with Pieter Schuermans, Jeroen D'hoe & Maarten Van Ingelgem. Her work Le Secret for four-part female choir and piano was described by the jury as formally very well structured with a beautiful piano part and interesting choral setting. 'The composer has good ideas and knows how to use them'.

We also noticed a beautiful coincidence: Retra shares her birthday with that of Vic Nees, international women's day.