Celicia Thendean, 16, a Junior at Amador Valley High School, began her piano studies at age 3 under the guidance of her mother and Prof. Anna Poklewski, later advancing with the renowned Ilana Vered. She has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras, including the Palo Alto Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Brunensis Virtuosi Orchestra, Livermore-Amador Symphony, and SEEN Orchestra.
Celicia has earned her top prizes in numerous competitions, such as the Piano Texas International Festival Concerto Competition, Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, Claudette Sorel Piano Competition, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and Philadelphia International Music Festival. In 2024, she was awarded a scholarship from the Chopin Foundation.
Celicia has further honed her artistry at esteemed summer programs such as the Juilliard Summer Program, Piano Texas International Festival, Music Fest Perugia, Southeastern Piano Festival, Vivace Music Festival, and the Edward Auer Summer Workshop. In 2020, she won the Vivace Award, leading to a special performance alongside Prof. Marina Lomazov and Prof. Joseph Rackers, distinguished professors from Eastman School of Music.
Beyond piano, Celicia is a dedicated multi-instrumentalist, excelling in cello, oboe, English horn, and clarinet. Passionate about giving back, she performs benefit concerts supporting the Alan Hu Foundation and Amador High School music programs, using her talents to uplift and inspire others.