Charles Sunie – 1st Prize with Special Mention, Cello
Charles Sunie, 13, is a Calgary-based musician in the Advanced Performance Program at Mount Royal University Conservatory. He began piano at five and discovered his passion for cello at ten. Under the mentorship of distinguished cellists, Michael Van Der Sloot, Johanne Perron and John Kadz, he has made exceptional progress within just three years, earning national and international recognition.
In 2024, Charles debuted with the Mount Royal Conservatory Sinfonia Orchestra as a Concerto Competition winner. He attended the Meadowmount School of Music (studying with Hans Jørgen Jensen) and was admitted to Heifetz International Music Institute, having previously trained at Orford Musique Academy (2023).
Among his most recent accolades, Charles was awarded the following honors:
. 1st place – Charleston Winter Music Competition with Exceptional Performer Award (2025)
. 1st place – American Protégé Concerto Competition with Judges Distinction Award
(Plaque Trophies) (2025)
. 1st place – SCO String Competition (2025)
. 1st place – Gold International Classical Music Competition (2025)
· 2nd place – Camerata Artists International Competition (Concerto & Solo Categories) (2025)
. 2nd place – Enkor Int’l Music Competition (2025)
· Absolute Winner – the Fenix Award International Music Competition (2024)
· 1st Prize – the Bach International Music Competition (2024)
· Overall Platinum Prize – the World Exceptional Musicians Competition (2024)
· Overall Gold prize – the Erik Satie International Music Competition (2024)
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.
Individually, Charles has earned numerous awards. 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. Charles received First Class Honors with Distinction on RCM Level 10 piano.
As a composer, Charles won 1st Prize in the 2022 ARMTA Student Composer Competition and received an Honorable Mention in the 15-year-old category in 2023 and 2024. His violin solo compositions were published in “Creatures” (2022). Currently, he is working on a string quartet project with Victoria Conservatory Senior Collegium program.
Charles was the principal cellist of the Sinfonia Orchestra and serves as a guest accompanist for both his school’s choir and the Mount Royal University Children’s Choir. 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 also plays saxophone in his school band and takes vocal and harmony lessons to further enrich his musical development. Beyond performing, Charles is committed to music outreach and 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 Arts and Beyond, where he volunteers regularly. Beyond music, he excels in competition math, speech, and debate. Additionally, as a member of Webber Academy’s badminton team, Charles was a semi-finalist in the C.I.S.A.A. badminton tournament (2024).