Julia Sunay was born and raised in Calgary Alberta Canada where she was surrounded by both the visual and performing arts as a child. Growing up, Julia showed an early interest in the piano and studied diligently with Norma Stang and Ethel Huber. Having completed her classical music training with the Royal Conservatory of Music, she has also studied various musical styles including Broadway, jazz, sacred, pop, opera and folk. In addition to performing as a pianist, Julia has worked as an accompanist for a little under ten years. Accompanying mainly vocalists, she has also worked alongside pit orchestras, dancers, choirs, instrumentalists and big bands. She has been an accompanist for both the Calgary and Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival, and has worked as a resident pianist for three vocal studios in Calgary. Julia also works as a piano teacher, both privately and through music studios. In 2005, she worked for Mozart Mobility Children’s Music Lessons, being one of the youngest teachers.
While working as a young accompanist, Julia became heavily involved with the Bands of Calgary, performing with the Calgary Round-Up Band and the Calgary Stetson Show Band. She played mellophone for two years and was appointed drum major in her second year with the Round-Up Band. Achieving international acclaim, Julia traveled with the band throughout Canada, the United States and Australia. In addition to performing with the band, Julia was also selected to represent the band at Bands of America Summer Symposium, an international collection of the top 1,000 music students held in Normal, Illinois. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was awarded the coveted, “Robert Eklund Trophy” as the top band member for 2000.
Aside from her work as a musician, Julia developed a strong passion for musical theatre and began training as a triple threat performer. After high school, Julia decided to pursue acting and graduated from Grant MacEwan College’s Musical Theatre program in Edmonton, Alberta where she trained in all three disciplines of acting, dance and singing.
After graduating, Julia became a working musician and actor in Alberta. She has worked with professional theatre companies such as New West Theatre, The Gardyn Theatre Company, and Celebrations Dinner Theatre. Recently, she made her summer stock theatre debut in the United States, performing with The Brewery Follies. Julia recently relocated to Toronto, Ontario where she is currently working as an accompanist and vocal coach. She is a ballet accompanist at the Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance, Martha Hicks School of Ballet, and the dance program at York University. Julia also plays for the jazz choir and several vocal classes at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is thrilled to explore new and exciting opportunities in Eastern Canada and the U.S.