Piping partnerships
College of Piping and Holland College School of Performing Arts partner for new programs
Opportunities are broadening for College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada and Holland College students — students like Calum Brydon, who is planning on studying performing arts at Holland College while still learning from the College of Piping.
“I’ll be attending Holland College in the fall. My primary instrument will be guitar, but I’m excited to be able to play the pipes at that facility as well.”
Recently, James MacHattie and Michael O’Grady signed a memorandum entering the institutions into a learning partnership.
MacHattie is principal of the College of Piping in Summerside, while O’Grady is vice-president of innovation, enterprise and strategic development at Holland College.
“We will share human resources and we hope to have instructors from Charlottetown hosting workshops here at the College of Piping but also have instructors from here come to our facility in Charlottetown,” explained Gaylene Carragher, director of Holland College’s school of performing arts.
O’Grady said the idea of partnering with the Summerside school began in late fall of 2016.
“We were always aware of the existence of the College of Piping and the potential for a partnership which has become more prevalent recently. This is an important opportunity for students at both institutions to work on different skills.”
O’Grady and MacHattie expect the programs to begin this fall.
“Now we’re moving forward to start a committee that will be comprised of administrators, instructors and students from each institution,” said O’Grady.
MacHattie is optimistic the partnership will
extend the reaches of both schools as well as raise their profiles.
“There is a mutual respect for the quality of each of the programs the institutions produce. This partnership is a sign for the future and where things will go.”
For now, the institutions will work over the summer and early fall to plan the programs that will be available at each location.