Ronkay is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and actor whose work fuses microtonal textures, complex rhythmic language, and intercultural storytelling across both stage and screen.
Discovered in high school by esteemed music educator Aşkın Gökalp for his extraordinary aural abilities—such as recognizing multiple simultaneous notes—Ronkay began formal studies at Haliç University Conservatory. He earned a perfect entrance score (100/100) and received a full scholarship for his outstanding musical talent.
While building a foundation in piano and bağlama, Ronkay rapidly expanded his skill set to include fretless guitar, drums, and a range of traditional percussion instruments. He trained in jazz piano with Ali Akçaça and in Turkish modal systems (makams) with master musicians like Mehmet Erenler and Çetin Akdeniz. He later honed his rhythmic discipline under Erdem Dalkıran and further refined his fretless guitar technique under Cenk Erdoğan.
In parallel with his musical development, Ronkay began appearing in major national film and TV productions in Turkey. His credited acting roles include performances in the internationally distributed films İftarlık Gazoz (Disney+, 2016) and Recep İvedik 7 (Disney+, 2022), as well as 25 major episodes of the hit historical series Muhteşem Yüzyıl (The Magnificent Century), where he portrayed Cahit Pasha—a core figure within the palace storyline. His appearances are publicly documented on IMDb and Wikipedia, with nationwide recognition from Turkish media.
After relocating to the United States, Ronkay expanded his vision with globally engaged creative work. He performed in immersive live concerts across Austin, Portland, Houston, and Los Angeles, where he introduced PlayerIsReady—an AI-integrated stage format combining real-time multi-instrumental performance, narrative design, and technology-generated personas.
He has also participated in creative residencies and masterclasses with Grammy-winning artists such as Cory Henry and Jacob Collier, culminating in a four-day interdisciplinary collaboration in Portland with Suzie Collier (Royal Academy of Music). During this program, he presented his signature blend of modal improvisation, AI-supported visuals, and live-looped polyrhythmic performance to a global artistic cohort. In addition, he introduced microtonal instruments from Anatolia and other regions to international participants and led a brief masterclass showcasing their unique tonal systems and expressive capabilities.
Through both music and screen work, Ronkay continues to build a multidisciplinary career rooted in originality and cultural fusion. Now based in the United States, he actively performs, teaches, and collaborates across cities like Los Angeles, Austin, and New York—developing new works and sharing his voice with audiences around the world.