Lana Cenčić (born in Zagreb, Croatia) was born into a musically rich family. Father Maksimiljan Cenčić works as a conductor at the Vienna State Opera, mother Silvija V. Purcar was a professional opera singer...
Due to this fruitful musical environment Lana found her vocation in music early in life.
At three, her musical debut as a vocalist took place at the Zagreb State Operahouse, followed by various and numerous performances, both musical and theatrical; a few of the highlights performing at the „Zagreb State Opera House“ in Puccini`s „Madame Butterfly“ at the age of three and at „Volksoper Wien“ in Kálmán`s „Gräfin Mariza“ at the age of eight.
At six, she started her piano education, and later that year recorded her first CD as a solo vocalist with the croatian girls`choir „Zvijezdice“. Various appearances in Film, T.V. and stage accompanied Lana throughout her childhood.
At ten she was accepted into the „Arts Educational School`s of London“ where she completed a rigorous degree in Dance. During her time in London, she was introduced to the world of Jazz by a music teacher; with recordings of such legends as Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Shuure, and many more.
In 1999 Lana was drawn to Vienna, where she was accepted into the Musical Theatre Programm at „Konservatorium der Stadt Wien“, which she graduated from with distinction in 2003. Already during her studies, she attained many professional jobs both in Austria and Germany within Theatre and Music.
In 2001 she started a second degree in classical singing at the „Prayner Konservatorium, Wien“. In 2003, Lana was introduced to the Indian Percussion Instrument, Tabla, and studies this with great dedication, learning from Jatinder Thakur and as of September 2010 with Pandit Samir Chatterjee in New York.
From 2007 to 2010 she completed the Jazz Vocal Program at the „Anton Bruckner Privatuniversitaet“ which she graduated from with distinction. Being a recipient of the „Start Stipendium 2010“, a grant for young promising artists from the austrian cultural ministry and a grant from the cultural association „UNISONO“.
Lana decided to move to New York to pursue her dream as jazz vocalist/composer and to continue her Tabla studies.