Ruben Natan Ghidiceanu was born on the 4th of September 2007 in Bucharest (Romania). At the age of 18, Ruben is a scholarship holder of the Romanian Academy for his musical activity. He began to discover the beauty of the piano in his family, and, from the age of 6, he studied the secrets of this instrument with the distinguished teacher Mariana Ilie, who would pave the way for his piano career, as she did with entire generations.
He is currently a student of the “Marin Sorescu” High School of Arts from Craiova, in the 12th grade, in the piano class of professor Edward Man.
At the age of 9, Ruben debuted as a soloist with the Oltenia Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Alexandru Iosub who created a version for piano and orchestra of the work “April”, from the “Seasons” suite, by P.I. Tchaikovsky, (May 2017). Only a month after this debut, Ruben was invited to perform on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, with the Orchestra di Medici Emil Nichifor, conducted by Maestro Iosif Ion Prunner.
At the age of 10, Ruben performed Haydn’s Concerto in D major, with the pianist Eduard Kunz, on two pianos, at the Brașov Philharmonic. Ruben also performed the same concert in front of the Craiova’s audience, with the Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Alexandru Iosub (January 15, 2019).
At the age of 11, under the direction of conductor Tiberiu Oprea, Ruben presented on the stage of the Pitești Philharmonic, together with the orchestra of this institution, the Concerto no. 8 in C major by W.A. Mozart, for which he composed his own cadenzas (May 30, 2019).
At the age of 12, in the pandemic year 2020, Ruben and pianist Mihai Ungureanu performed the Concerto no. 1, in C, by L.v. Beethoven (July 2020), in a unique version, for two pianos, a concert filmed by the television station Speranța TV and broadcast as a tribute to the great composer on the 250th anniversary of his birth.
In July 2021, Ruben performed in Basel, together with another of his mentors, Tobias Cramm, the Concerto in C minor for two pianos by J. S. Bach, a concert that was presented both to the audience present in the hall and to the audience from 4 continents (Australia, America, Asia, Europe), via the Zoom platform.
At the age of 14, Ruben performed with the Pitești Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Constantin Grigore, the same Beethoven concerto, part I (June 2, 2022).
On September 15, 2023, as part of the event entitled “Back to School”, Ruben performed at the Oltenia Craiova Philharmonic, together with his friend, student pianist Ștefan Pretuleac, the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in C minor BWV 1060, under the baton of conductor Gheorghe Costin.
At 16 y.o., in May 2024, he played Mendelssohn Concerto, no.1, 1st mov. with Oltenia
Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Radu Zaharia. At 17 y.o., in May 2025, he played Mendelssohn, full Concerto, no.1, with Oltenia Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Constantin Grigore.
Since 2018, Ruben has been receiving improvisation and composition lessons from the Swiss maestro Tobias Cramm, Ewald Demeyere (Belgium) and Peter van Tour (Norway). Thus, Ruben has composed several works for piano, chorales, chamber music, lieds, carols etc.
Ruben has won numerous awards at national and international competitions, including:
- 1st Prize (participation as a soloist with the Pitești Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, at the International Music Competition, organized by Pitești Philharmonic in partnership with the Academy of Arts, South Korea & CMS Vienna, Austria, Pitesti, November 1-18, 2021.
- 1st Prize – World Open International Music Competition, Belgrad, Serbia (2015-2022).
- 1st Prize and Bach Prize – International Piano Performance Competition “Clara Peia”, 9th edition, Lugoj, May, 27-28, 2022.
- 1st Prize at the National Competition of Interpretation of Romanian Music “Sigismund
Toduță”, ed. XXXVIII, Bistrița, May 14, 2022. - 1st Prize and “Mihail Jora” Special Prize at the “Ion Dumitrescu” National Festival-
Competition, Vth Edition, January 31-February 11, 2024, Composition section. - 1st Prize, at the ArtsON National Music Competition, University of West Timișoara,
Faculty of Music, March 1-17, 2024. - Grand Prize at the Atlanta, USA Classical Solo International Young Music Competition
(IYMC) held in November 2024. - Special Junior Award at the “International Improvisation Contest Rene Arons-2024”,
Royal Conservatory in Antwerp, Belgium, February 25, 2024. - 1st Prize at the “Craiova Piano” International Competition, 17th edition, March 22-24, 2024 and 18th edition, April 04-05, 2025.
In July 2024 Ruben participated in 50 internationale kammermusik + meisterkurs Tage – Irdning, Austria, where he had the joy of working and performing with prof. and pianist Yejin Gil. In the summers of 2024 and 2025, he participated in 2 piano masterclasses in Tivat and Herceg Novi, Montenegro, held by prof. and pianist Mira Marchenko, Russia. On the first occasion, on August 12, 2024, he gave a mini-recital in Kotor at the Holy Siprit Church. During George Enescu International Festival 2024, Ruben was selected to participate in an instrumental masterclass with the master conductor Cristian Măcelaru, at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, from September 23rd to 27th, 2024. Ruben participated in the Piano Class of KIS Winter Academy held in Grimstad (Norway) between the 14th and 23rd of February 2025. During the Festival, Ruben performed in several concerts and profitably attended classes with prof. Yejin Gil and maestro Riccardo Cecchetti. Also, he was selected to participate in the International Virtuoso&Belcanto Festival, Lucca, Italy, from July 21st to August 3rd, 2025, where he received guidance for Piano classes from maestro Riccardo Cecchetti and prof. and pianist Yejin Gil. He also performed chamber music under the guidance of renowned teachers: Luc-Marie Aguera, Alain Meunier, Jan Bjøranger, Simone Gramaglia. On this occasion he performed the Instrumental Quintet by R. Schumann.
On August 29, Ruben attended a masterclass at the Juilliard School, New York, USA, taught by Prof. Yi-heng Yang. On August 31, 2025, he gave a recital in New York at the DiMenna Center, after winning the Grand Prize at the International Young Music Competition in November 2024. (IYMC). Ruben was also invited to the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York to give a recital (Sept. 1st 2025).
He frequently collaborates with the television stations like Hope TV or Oltenia TV, making several recordings and videos of his compositions and more.
He likes chess, swimming, biking, gardening and playing with his brothers and pets.
He is a student of Fondazione Accademia di Musica since 2025.
