The College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada

The College of Piping began in the 1980s with a passionate group of volunteers who purchased a small two-bedroom bungalow on Water Street in Summerside and revived a local pipe band. At first, piping, drumming, and Highland dancing were taught part-time. However, it quickly became clear that year-round, full-time instruction was essential for long-term success.

The pipe band’s roots trace back to the Summerside Presbyterian Pipe Band (1963–1969), which later reformed in 1986 as the Caledonian Pipe Band. In 1990, the band became affiliated with the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada and officially adopted its name in 1993.

Today, the College is home to two competitive pipe bands, competing in Grades 3 and 5 and registered with the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association. In addition, a development band provides students with hands-on experience in ensemble performance. With nearly 50 musicians involved, students gain valuable opportunities to compete, grow as performers, and take the stage in the College’s signature summer production, Highland Storm.

Over the past three decades, the College has also become a premier cultural tourism destination on Prince Edward Island. Visitors flock to Summerside each year for the summer-long Highland Storm production and lively mini-concerts.

In 2018, the 280-seat Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre opened as part of the campus. This modern theatre serves as both a professional performance venue and an extension of the classroom. It gives aspiring artists the opportunity to perform alongside faculty and fellow Island talent. Today, the venue hosts year-round entertainment, including emerging acts, school productions, community theatre, and well-known performers.

From humble beginnings to an internationally recognized centre of Celtic excellence, the College of Piping continues to shape the cultural heartbeat of Summerside.