Retra’s compositional oeuvre includes works for solo piano, voice with piano accompaniment, choir, chamber music and orchestra. 

She was the winner of the second Vic Nees Composition Competition 2023 (conservatory category) with ‘Le Secret’, a work for women’s choir and piano.  Among others, the Catalan pianist Carol Ruiz performed her piano piece ‘Perpétuel’; in 2022, the ‘Orkest van Het Groene Hart’ (NL), performed her commissioned work ‘1672’ and in 1996, her chamber opera ‘The Bridge’ was shortlisted for the Stephen Oliver Prize. That same year, her work ‘Juliet’ for women’s choir and piano was performed at the women's choir festival ‘Vrouwen-stemmen’ in Etten (Netherlands). 

She studied piano at the Arnhem Conservatory and took composition lessons with Andries van Rossem and Maarten Van Ingelghem. After studying composition at LUCA School of Arts, Leuven (Belgium), she is currently continuing her composition studies at the conservatory of Antwerp (Belgium) and teaches composition at the Art Centre ‘Het Klooster’ in Woerden (Netherlands).

Composition Conservatorium Antwerpen (BE)

Composition Luca School of Arts, campus Lemmens (BE)

Artistic Research, course KU Leuven/Orpheus instituut (BE)

PhD Music Education, University of Exeter (UK)

MA Psychology for Musicians, University of Sheffield (UK)

Bachelor Pedagogiek, Hogeschool Nijmegen (NL) 

B.Mus. Piano,  Conservatorium Arnhem (NL)