Gunes Sunar is a 16-year-old pianist and composer living in Stony Brook, New York. He has played piano for more than ten years and currently studies piano performance with Daniel Fogel. His earlier achievements include First Class Honors in Royal Conservatory of Music examinations (Levels 1–4) and Superior ratings at the National Federation of Music Clubs Ohio Junior Festival. More recently, he earned a score of 98/100 at the New York State School Music Association Solo Festival and Second Place at the Global Music Art Competition.
Gunes has also composed original music since age seven, earning recognition in several national and international composition competitions. He has pursued advanced composition study through programs at Penn State and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, expanding his work from solo piano to chamber music.
He is also the founder of PieceFoundry, a free platform that introduces students in Grades 1–8 to music composition through educational resources, articles, one-on-one tutoring, and workshops.
Watch Gunes Sunar perform Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig Van Beethoven on the piano for the 2026 Autumn Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.