he Holland College School of Performing Arts (SoPA), a partnership with Confederation Centre of the Arts, today announced the faculty for the school's Music Performance and Performing Arts Foundation programs, which will begin in September.

The two-year Music Performance program trains musicians for the commercial music and entertainment industry. Students will be able to interpret and perform many contemporary music styles such as rock, country, funk, R&B, jazz, Celtic and world music, and will also learn the business aspects of a self-managed career in the music industry.

"I'm very excited about the quality of the instructors we've been able to attract to the School of Performing Arts. Our Music Performance instructors have impressive musical performance backgrounds and are all actively involved in the music business," commented Alan Dowling, instructor at Holland College. "Whether their instrument is drums, keyboard, guitar or voice, students will benefit from weekly private lessons with professional musicians who have experience on the stage and in the recording studio."

Instructors in the Music Performance program are Alan Dowling, who will teach an introductory course in music business as well as a course in rock and country music styles; Sean Ferris, who will conduct private lessons for pianists; Donald Fraser, who will teach keyboard harmony; Terry Hatty will offer private voice lessons; Devin Hornby will instruct ear training, rock and country ensemble, and will also offer private bass lessons; Julain Molnar will offer private voice lessons; M.J. Mullin will teach music theory and will also offer private guitar lessons; and Alan White will offer private drumming lessons and will also instruct in the rock and country ensemble course.

The one-year Performing Arts Foundation program introduces students to career options within the performing arts, both onstage and behind the scenes.

Peggy Reddin, Director of Arts Education at Confederation Centre and an instructor in the Performing Arts Foundation program is also pleased at the experience brought to the program by the new faculty.

"In addition to having wonderful professional experience in their field, they also have a real passion for sharing their knowledge with the next generation."

Faculty in the Performing Arts Foundation program include Gaylene Carragher, who will teach communications; Dean Constable, who will instruct the Technical Aspects of Theatre course, which will also draw upon the expertise of technicians in PEI's performing arts community; Jade Lipton and Peggy Reddin will teach Dance Performance; Wade Lynch will teach acting essentials and performing arts overview; Julain Molnar will teach voice; Jody Racicot will teach performance business; and Julie Sauvé will teach an introduction to creative thinking course.

In this picture: SoPA instructors Alan Dowling and Peggy Reddin discuss plans for the school's inaugural year, which starts in September. They are standing in front of 275 Kent Street, the building that will become home to the school's Music Performance program on the Prince of Wales Campus.