A tribute on an Anglo-Bolivian Facebook group

FRIENDS and teachers of a 14-year-old boy who drowned on holiday in the summer have paid tribute to a talented young musician who had already performed on famous stages.

Raymi Saldaña Rojas, who lived in Islington, has been remembered in special assemblies at William Ellis Secondary School in Highgate Road where he had been a pupil.

Last weekend friends met in the school grounds to dig out a memorial garden and plant a cherry tree in his memory. It is hoped the tree will blossom every year on his birthday.

Raymi had been the youngest performer ever to play at the Jazz Cafe shortly after his 13th birthday, and played with the flute ensemble put together by the Music Education Islington project.

His talent was encouraged by a bursary from the London Music Fund and extra tuition came via the Guildhall’s Music Education Islington project, where he was a member of the flute ensemble.

Friends and teachers were left in shock as news came through from the Netherlands that Raymi had died while sailing in Ij Lake in Amsterdam. He had fallen from a boat.

A search and rescue operation spent an hour searching the waters for the teenager, but he was in a critical condition when he was found, and sadly did not recover.

Headteacher Izzy Jones explained how the school had worked with pupils to come to terms with the tragedy, including holding the memorial assemblies. Children from the school were also welcomed to Raymi’s funeral, with many of his peers attending to pay their respects.

The cherry tree planted in memory of Raymi in the grounds of William Ellis School

Ms Jones said: “Raymi was a cherished member of our school community and had many friends.

“He was liked and respected for his kindness, openness and supportiveness.

“Since the horrible news of his death, the strength and cohesiveness of the school community has been evident in the way that staff, parents and students have supported each other.”

She added: “Raymi was an exceptional musician, and playing music together regularly again has helped his friends celebrate Raymi.

“The whole school took part in memorial assemblies at the start of the year including listening to a recording of a recent recording by La Sagrada Familia, the band that Raymi played in with his parents, and a few moments silence.

“We have provided ongoing support to staff and students in managing their grief and sudden sense of loss.”

Raymi was born in London but had South American music coursing through him: his mother, is from Bolivia, and his father from Peru.

They began at an early age teaching him a range of different traditional instruments from the Andes, and he mastered the 10-stringed charango

His obvious talent had been recognised when he won a Young Sounds UK award.

He was also a talented piano player, unfazed by learning new instruments.

Raymi: the flute was just one of the many instruments he mastered

In a tribute to the teenager in The Guardian this week, family friend Silvia Rothlisberger said: “He was an avid reader and loved spending time with his friends, with whom he played in two different bands: the mellow rock band Walrus and the jazz trio Dynamic Trio. He was passionate about peace, justice and humanity.

“As a member of Global Generation, a charity that co-create gardens with the local community, he worked to attract wildlife in King’s Cross by spreading bird feeders and helped to raise awareness about climate change.”

He was also a regular at the Calthorpe Project in Gray’s Inn Road, which held a special day-long Latin American music festival in his honour at the end of summer.

Ms Rothlisberger added in her tribute: “The name Raymi in Quechua means a festival, a celebration; Willka, his second name, means sacred in Quechua and sun in Aymara.

“He will be remembered for his kindness and humility.”

Facebook groups for Peruvians and Bolivians living in London have also been full of messages of condolences

After winning an award at his primary school, he had joined a chamber music project at the Royal Academy of Music. It also took him to the Leeds Conservatoire to have a go at jazz improvisation.

Raymi had also got to perform with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Maida Vale studios.  Over the coronavirus lockdown, Raymi and his parents composed, played and produced an album of Latin American music which was critically acclaimed.

His name will live on in a field he was so respected, as Music Education Islington is founding an award in his name, in recog­nition of his incredible talents and the joy he had for music.