Charles Sunie (age 14) is emerging young artist whose achievements have far exceeded expectations for his age. A Calgary-based cellist, pianist, and composer, he is the youngest student enrolled in the Cello Advanced Performance Program (APP) at the Mount Royal University Conservatory, where he performs regularly and enjoys collaborating with pianists and fellow musicians in chamber music settings. Charles began piano at the age of five and discovered his passion for the cello at ten. Under the mentorship of Michael van der Sloot, Johanne Perron, and John Kadz, he has progressed with remarkable speed, earning national and international recognition within just a few years. In 2024, Charles made his orchestral debut as a concerto soloist with the Mount Royal Conservatory Sinfonia Orchestra. In 2025, he won First Place at the Frank Simpson Concerto Competition that grants him the performance as a soloist with the Calgary Youth Orchestra in May 2026. His musical development has been further honed by studies at the Meadowmount School of Music with Professor Hans Jørgen Jensen of the Bienen School of Music of Northwestern University; the Orford Musique Academy with Professor Amit Peled of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University; the Nice International Summer Academy with former Professor, Yi-Bing Chu, Head of the Cello Department of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing; and was admitted into the Heifetz International Music Institute. Achievements • 1st Place - Soloist & Orchestra Concerto Competition, Brescia (Italy), performing with the Master Orchestra (2025) • 1st Place - Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition (2025) • 1st Place - Frank Simpson Concerto Competition; soloist with Calgary Youth Orchestra (2025) • 1st Place - American Protégé Concerto Competition, Judges’ Distinction Award (2025) • 1st Place - Charleston Winter Music Competition, Exceptional Performer Award (2025) • 1st Place - Classical Music Stars Competition, Special Mention (2025) • Absolute Winner - Fenix Award International Music Competition (2024) • 1st Prize - Bach International Music Competition (2024) • Overall Platinum Prize - World Exceptional Musicians Competition (2024) • Overall Gold Prize - Erik Satie International Music Competition (2024) In addition to his solo work, Charles is an active chamber musician and a founding member of the Sunie Brothers Duo, which has presented outreach concerts at senior residences, children’s hospitals, and community venues since 2019. As a composer, Charles won 1st Prize in the ARMTA Student Composer Competition (2022) and received Honourable Mentions in the 15-year-old category in both 2024 and 2025. His violin solo compositions were published in Creatures (2022). His work, String Quartet Two Colours, was premiered at the Victoria Conservatory of Music in 2024. Inspired by artworks from the Victoria Art Gallery, his compositions invite visitors to experience visual and musical interpretations together(2025). Additional distinctions include 1st Place at the Rocky Mountain International Piano Competition(2022); 1st Place at the Calgary Performing Arts Festival Piano Concerto Competition; First Class Honors with Distinction -RCM Level 10 Piano(2024); and 1st Place in the Canadian Music Competition (Piano Four-Hands) at the age of eleven(2022). Beyond music, Charles excels in competing mathematics, speech and debate, and competitive badminton. He plays saxophone in his full-time school band since Grade 7, serves as a guest accompanist for MRU- Calgary Zi-Yin Choir, and takes vocal and harmony lessons to further broaden his musicianship. As a co-founder of Arts and Beyond, Charles is deeply committed to arts outreach and community engagement.
A. Dvořák, Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, 3rd mvt
