Önay Günay initiated his singing training within the Opera Department of the National Conservatory of Mimar Sinan University with Yildiz Dagdelen, then with Prof. Güzin Gürel, where he graduated in 1999.
Moreover, he attended master classes with Leyla Gencer, Katia Ricciarelli and Leyla Pinar on baroque music.
He debuted professional singing while he was still a student. In year 1995, he successfully performed Aeneas in Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Istanbul Baroque Ensemble in the Otello Castle, Bela Pais Monastery in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, also in Yildiz Palace in Istanbul. The same year witnessed his portrayal of Süleyman in the C.R.R. Concert Hall Opera and Orchestra's premiere production of Uzeyir Hacibeyov's trademark operetta Arsin Mal Alan, in Istanbul.
In year 1997, he performed a highly acclaimed portrayal of Belcore in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore in the above mentioned institution. The same year was also marked by his baritone solo performance of Beethoven's Scottish Songs with the Istanbul Chamber Music Ensemble within the 25th International Istanbul Music Festival's Young Soloist Series. The same series proudly presented his acclaimed performance in his solo recital in the 27th International Istanbul Music Festival.
The year 2000 became the first pave of his career in singing with the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, where he appeared in many trademark roles of the opera history, such as Belisario (Belisario), Prince Igor (Prince Igor), Escamillo (Carmen), Marcello (La Boheme), Lescaut (Manon Lescaut), Belcore (L'Elisir d'Amore), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Starek (Jenufa), and many more.
Besides his operatic performances at the mentioned institution, Mr. Günay also appeared and performed in several concerts, recitals and music festivals internationally. He performed the baritone solo in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in 2002 within the 9th International Gaia Music Festival in Porto, Portugal. In 2003, he gave a memorable recital at the 3rd International Rocnic Festival in Prague.
Another of his portrayals was of the baritone solo in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana took place in Hagia Irini Church in Istanbul in 2004, while, in 2005, he excelled as a soloist of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra's gala concert, under the baton of Vesna Souc. The latter has also been recorded and published in the compact disc platform for all music lovers. The Austrian Cultural Center became the stage of his recital with his twin sister mezzo soprano Özay Günay.
Mr. Günay had successfully performed under the direction of many conductors such as Fabrizio Ventura, Hillary Griffiths, Mosche Atzmon, Helge Dorsch, Jose Luis Pareja, Antonio Pirolli, Selam Ada, and stage directos, among which we can count, among others, Yekta Kara, Beppe de Thomasi, Dmitri Bertman, Vincenzo Grisostomi, Aytac Manizade and Murat Goksu.
Baritone Önay Günay has currently expanding his career with the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. His performances during the 2008-2009 season included,among others, G.Germont in Verdi's 'La Traviata' and Malatesta in Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale'.
He performed Escamillo in Bizet's 'Carmen' under the framework of the XVI. Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival in 2009. His performances for Istanbul State Opera and Ballet during the 2010-2011 season are 'Dr. Malatesta' in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, 'Dapertutto' in Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann and bariton soloist in Orff's Carmina Burana.
In August 2009 he joined Prof. Eva Blahova's 2 weeks' Seminar at Wiener MusikSeminar.
In March 2010 Önay Günay performed in the Gala Concert with the Prag Philarmonic Orchestra conducted by the Music Director of BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek, in Obecni dum Praha.
In May 2010 he sang Mozart arias accompanied by an orchestra in one of the most famous concert halls Wienerkonzerthaus.
On 27th February 2011 he is going to perform bariton solo in J. Brahms´ Requiem with the North Czeck Philarmonic Orchestra and Choir conducted by the young Canadian conductor Charles Olivieri-Munroe in Teplice Civic Senter Hall, Czech Repuclic.
