The College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada had humble beginnings in the 1980s with a little bungalow on Water Street in Summerside, devoted to the rebirth of a pipe band. What began with volunteer teachers in piping, drumming, and dancing, giving part-time instruction to a few inspired by Scottish heritage, has now become a large institution. Now, 30 years later, the College not only offers full-time year-round instruction but has developed into one of the marquee cultural tourism destinations in PEI.
The very modern 280-seat Celtic Performing Arts Centre, opened in 2018, extends the classroom experience where students and faculty demonstrate their skills on stage beside other island performers. And it is here, on the stage of the Celtic Performing Arts Centre, that the widest variety of performances is showcased—from school musicals to performances of world-renowned artists. And this summer is not an exception: this July, two headliner shows at the Celtic Performing Arts Centre are waiting for you to demonstrate examples of different genres in music.