Raphaella Smits plays worldwide in her unique way on eight-string guitars and period instruments. She has been praised as "an uncommonly musical guitarist" (Tim Page, New York Times), "Une Grande Musicienne" and "one of the most sensitive and cultured performers of our time" (Jean Bernard, Diapason, FR).

In addition to stage work, Raphaella Smits has released 26 albums, many of which are listed as indispensable for refined music lovers. To this day, she continues to produce new, valuable recordings.

Raphaella Smits is widely acclaimed as an inspiring pedagogue for both guitar and chamber music. She taught at the Lemmens Institute / LUCA School of Arts in Leuven, Belgium, from 1986 to 2022. She also continues to give regular masterclasses in Europe, North and South America and Japan.

Organizers of international guitar and chamber music competitions request Raphaella as a juror because of her exceptional and unbiased judgment.

In 2019, Raphaella received a unique award "Por su aporte a la Guitarra y la Cultura" in Argentina at the Festival Guitarras del Mundo.