Curriculum Vitae

Celyn Chua Min Xiu 蔡明秀

Collaborative Pianist · Music Educator · Certified Apple Teacher

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I Professional summary

Collaborative pianist and music educator with over 14 years of experience accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists across examinations, competitions, and concerts in Singapore and Malaysia. Holds the FRSM in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Royal College of Music, London (in partnership with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts). Currently serves as contract choir pianist for several MOE schools and, since 2024, as a Certified Apple Teacher delivering New Media and generative-AI content-creation programmes in MOE primary and secondary schools. Recognised with multiple Best Piano Accompanist awards, and experienced teaching students of all abilities, including students with special needs.

II Collaborative piano experience

Contract Choir Pianist — MOE Schools

2023 – Present
  • Dedicated pianist for MOE school choirs, accompanying weekly rehearsals and performances for the SYF Arts Presentation and school concerts.
  • Collaborate with choir conductors on interpretation, dynamics, tempo, and cueing during rehearsals and performances.
  • Adapt accompaniment to support performers of varying abilities, including students with special needs (APSN Chaoyang).

Schools: Methodist Girls’ (Primary), Catholic High (Primary), Temasek Primary, St Margaret’s Primary, APSN Chaoyang, and Greendale Secondary.

Freelance Collaborative Pianist — Singapore & Malaysia

2012 – Present
  • Piano accompaniment for vocal and instrumental principal-study exams, ABRSM & Trinity certification, O-Level MEP, and diploma-level examinations.
  • Accompany soloists and ensembles in national and international competitions, and for music-school auditions and recitals across institutions in Singapore and Malaysia.
  • Guest pianist, Macpherson Philharmonic Orchestra — annual concert ‘Progression IV’ (2025).

III Teaching & training experience

Freelance Piano & Vocal Teacher — Singapore & Malaysia

2011 – Present
  • Train students from beginner to ABRSM and Trinity diploma level in piano, voice, and basic composition and arrangement.
  • Students recognised at competitions including the Quatre Music Youth Piano Competition and the Singapore Raffles International Music Festival.

Music Instructor — Yamaha Music Singapore Pte Ltd

Aug 2018 – Apr 2024
  • Taught individual and group courses: Junior Music Course (JMC to ANC), Yamaha Piano Course, Music Friends Course, and Piano Course for Children.
  • Trainer for the ‘Hello Yamaha’ event at Suntec Convention Centre (2019); contributor to the Yamaha Canvas Project digital learning platform (2023–2024).

IV Performances & masterclasses

Choral & orchestral (choir member)

  • NAFA Concert Series — Les Biches (2013), Winning Keys (2014), Mozart Requiem (2015).
  • Singapore Symphony Orchestra Concert Series — Viva Verdi! (2013), Bach St John Passion (2014), Mahler’s Third (2015), Bizet Carmen (2016).

Selected & guest performances

  • Macpherson Philharmonic Orchestra — ‘Progression IV’ (Oct 2025).
  • Concert d’Alumnes, Festival de Música Isaac Albéniz — Camprodon, Spain.

Masterclasses

  • Prof. Gordon Thompson (2015); Prof. Dina Parakhina (2017).

V Awards & recognition

Accompanist awards

  • Meishi Cup Vocal Competition — Best Piano Accompanist Award (2010, 2011, 2012).
  • Sim Kuan Ming National Vocal Competition — Best Piano Accompanist Award (2011).
  • 2nd Singapore & Malaysia Vocal Competition — Outstanding Pianist Award (2017).

Performance awards

  • Asia International Music Competition, Taiwan — First Prize Gold Award (2015).
  • Meishi Cup Vocal Competition — Female Senior Category Gold Award (2012).

Teaching & mentorship

  • Certificate of Teaching Recognition — Quatre Music Youth Piano Competition (2021).
  • Outstanding Mentor Award — Singapore Raffles International Music Festival (2025).

VI Education

VII Certifications & qualifications

Music

  • FRSM, Piano Performance (2024)
  • Trinity ATCL, Piano Performance (2011)
  • ABRSM Grade 8 Piano (2007)
  • ABRSM Grade 8 Theory (2011)
  • ABRSM Grade 8 Singing (2012)
  • Yamaha Piano Grade 5 Advanced Certificate (2021)

Digital

  • Certified Apple Teacher

VIII Digital Creator & New Media CCA training

Alongside her music practice, Celyn is a Certified Apple Teacher and freelance Programme Trainer with makethechange Pte Ltd (Apple Consultant Network), delivering Infocom CCA programmes — Digital Creator, Content Creator with GenAI, Introduction to New Media, and Video Journalism — across MOE primary and secondary schools since July 2024.

Year School Programme / role
2024 Bartley Secondary School Transition Workshop — Speaker
2025 Yang Zheng Primary School Content Creator with Apple Tech — Programme Trainer
2025 Zhangde Primary School Introduction to New Media — Programme Trainer
2025 Wellington Primary School Introduction to New Media — Programme Trainer
2026 Yu Hua Primary School Digital Creator — Programme Trainer
2026 Chung Cheng High School Video Journalism — Programme Trainer
2026 Wellington Primary School Digital Creator — Programme Trainer

Content covered: Introduction to iPad, iPad photography & videography, iMovie video editing, GarageBand music-loop creation, digital drawing (Sketchbook/Procreate), Clips video recording & editing, AR Makr model creation, Padlet AI image generation & prompting, and Video Journalism (storyline to video/slides).

IX Skills & languages

Music software

  • MuseScore (Advanced)
  • Sibelius (Advanced)
  • GarageBand (Intermediate)

Generative AI tools

  • ChatGPT
  • Gemini
  • Claude
  • Perplexity
  • Canva AI
  • Veed.io
  • Suno
  • Padlet AI

Apple creativity apps

  • iPad
  • iMovie
  • GarageBand
  • Clips
  • Sketchbook
  • Procreate
  • AR Makr

Languages

English (Native) · Chinese (Native) · Malay (Intermediate) · Cantonese (Intermediate) · Japanese (Beginner)