Born in Bucharest, she graduated from the National University of Music (Piano section) in 1990, under the guidance of maestros Constantin Ionescu-Vovu and Suzana Szoerenyi. Right after graduation, she was hired, by contest, as an assistant lecturer at the same institution, teaching Accompaniment within the Piano Department. Ever since, she followed the path of teaching activity, reaching the status of associate professor, which she holds since 2004. In 2000 she defended her doctoral thesis „Interferences, Language and Communication in the Romantic Vocal Miniature”, under the guidance of PhD. Professor Grigore Constantinescu, obtaining the title of PhD in Music.
As a professor, she develops a rich activity. Her students prove a high artistic level both in concerts and competitions of national and international opening. Viorela Ciucur has taught as a collaborative professor at the Music Department of the University of Craiova and, also, was invited to give an international insight in online pluridisciplinary courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University in the United States.
She constantly participated the scientific life through presentations at thematic conferences, very well appreciated both in Romania and abroad. She has published four books on issues concerning the vocal miniature.
As a concert pianist, she played throughout the country and abroad, under conductors such as Ion Baciu, Petre Sbârcea, Ilarion Ionescu-Galaţi, Gheorghe Costin, Radu Postăvaru, Joost Smeets (Holland) etc.
She performed in piano recitals in Romania and she also embarked on international tours (Germany, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Greece). She is frequently invited to USA and Canada.
She has a vast experience as a collaborative pianist, is often invited as an official pianist in prestigious competitions. At George Enescu International Competition (2003, 2011, 2014 and 2016 editions, violin, singing and cello sections), the competitors with whom she played won important prizes: Eugen Tichindelean won First Prize in Violin, Cosmin Bănică – Second Prize in Violin (2003), Valentin Răduţiu – Second Prize in Cello (2011), Tony Rymer – Second Prize in Cello (2014); in the same competition, Viorela Ciucur also won the Special Prize for the Best Performance of George Enescu’s Third Sonata in Romanian Folk Character for piano and violin, together with Eugen Tichindelean. She participated as a collaborative pianist in the Jeunesses Musicales International Competition (ever since 1999), the Joseph Prunner International Double Bass Competition, as well as the Ionel Perlea Lied Competition.
Among the most recent accomplishments, it is worth mentioning the recitals given during the Frederic Chopin International Year, organised in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute, the recitals at the Romanian Embassy in Washington, DC, the recitals at the Romanian Athenaeum, as well as the recital at the Romanian Cultural Institute in Istanbul (Turkey).
