Charles Sunie was born in 2011 in Calgary, Canada. He began his musical journey with piano at five, later discovering his passion for cello at the age of 10. Under the mentorship of distinguished cellists Johanne Perron, John Kadz, and Michael Van Der Sloot, Charles demonstrated exceptional progress in three years. His dedication has quickly led to notable achievements nationally and internationally. He is currently a student in the Advanced Performance Program (APP) at Mount Royal University Conservatory.
Charles made his public debut as a cellist in May 2024, performing with the Mount Royal Conservatory Sinfonia Orchestra in May 2024 as a Concerto Competition winner in 2023.
In Summer 2024, Charles was admitted to Meadowmount School of Music, where he studied with Professor Hans Jorgen Jensen for 7 weeks; He was also selected to attend the prestigious Heifetz International Music Institute (2024). In 2023, Charles was accepted by Orford Musique Academy in Quebec and performed at the students’ recital at Gilles-Lefebvre Concert Hall.
Among his most recent accolades, Charles was awarded the following honours:
• Absolute Winner - the Fenix Award International Music Competition (2024)
• 1st Prize - the Bach International Music Competition (2024)
• Overall Platinum Prize in the Age 11-13 Category - the World Exceptional Musicians Competition (2024)
• Overall Gold prize in the Age 11-13 Category - the Erik Satie International Music Competition (2024)
• Honorable Mention - the 3rd Vienna International Classic Strings Competition (2024)
Besides, Charles earned a scholarship in the Pathways Performance program and gained recognition in his first Cello competition at the Canadian Music Competition National Audition in 2022.
Since 2019, Charles has been part of the Sunie Brothers Duo, achieving 1st Place in the 4-hands piano category for 13-year-olds at the Canadian Music Competition at age 11 in 2022.
Charles has also received numerous awards and scholarships at local, national, and international piano competitions. Awards include 1st Place in the Rocky Mountain International Piano Competition (2022), 4th Place in the Canadian Music Competition (Piano), and 1st Place in the Calgary Performing Arts Festival Piano Concerto Competition (2019). Charles was invited to perform at Calgary Kiwanis 100 Years Celebration in June 2019.
As a composer for cello, piano, violin, and Disney animation, Charles secured 1st Prize in the 2022 ARMTA Student Composer Competition and received an Honorable Mention in the 15-year-old category in 2023 and 2024. He published compositions for violin solo in “Creatures” (2022).Currently, he is exploring various piano techniques for an upcoming album, working on a String Quartet project with Victoria Conservatory Senior Collegium program.
Charles is the principal cellist of the Mount Royal Conservatory Sinfonia Orchestra. Enrolled in the Mount Royal Conservatory Academy and APP Program for Cello and Piano since 2023, Charles actively engages in chamber rehearsals and performances with his peers, exploring various genres of music and diverse ensembles.
He is a guest accompanist for the school elementary choir and Mount Royal University Children’s Choir. He showcases his saxophone versatility in the school band. To further enrich his musical development, he takes vocal and harmony lessons. He also explores drums, guitar, and conducting. In addition to formal performances, Charles has dedicated numerous hours to volunteer and passionately share his music in senior homes, schools, churches, community centers, Children’s Hospital, and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He has participated in the Mount Royal University Performance and Calgary Music Academy Outreach program since 2016.
Engaging in diverse interests, Charles is a co-founder of ArtsandBeyond.org, where he volunteers regularly. Beyond music, Charles excels in competition math, speech, and debate. He was a semi-finalist in the C.I.S.A.A. tournament as a member of Webber Academy's Badminton Team in 2024.
