Celicia Thendean

Celicia Thendean, age 16, started to learn piano with her mother and Prof. Anna Poklewski. Celicia then continued advanced her studies with Ilana Vered. She had her first solo recital in October 2022 to raise money for her high school music program. Celicia has soloed with many orchestras including the Brunensis Virtuosi Orchestra, Livermore-Amador Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic, and the SEEN Orchestra. Recently, Celicia won top prizes in numerous piano competitions including the Claudette Sorel Piano Competition, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artist competition,  Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, Philadelphia International Music Festival in both virtual and in person competition, Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition Senior Division, and MTAC VOCE State Winner. During summer, Celicia attended Music Fest Perugia, Southeastern Piano Festival, Vivace Music Festival, Philadelphia International Music Festival, and Edward Auer Summer Workshop.  She won the Vivace Award at Vivace Music Festival in 2020 and was invited to perform in Wilmington, North Carolina alongside with Prof. Marina Lomazov, Prof. Joseph Rackers, and Prof. Ara Gregorian. Besides piano, Celicia enjoys playing cello, oboe, english horn, and clarinet. She was selected in the 2021 and 2022 All-State Honor Ensembles on cello, oboe, and jazz piano, and was the recipient of the Ed Wolfe Scholarship for her outstanding performance in the All State Middle School Big Band.