Official grand opening of new UPEI Performing Arts Centre and revitalized Dr. Steel Recital Hall
The official grand opening of two performance spaces at UPEI—the new UPEI Performing Arts Centre and the revitalized Dr. Steel Recital Hall—was held on Friday, September 22, 2023. The event, featuring tributes and performances by UPEI Music faculty and students, was a thank-you to donors for their contributions to the successful Performing Arts Fundraising Campaign, which was coordinated by Development and Alumni Engagement and co-chaired by the departments of Music and English (Theatre Studies program) in the Faculty of Arts.
The new, 400-seat Performing Arts Centre is part of the campus's new residence building, serving as a both a classroom space and performance space for UPEI’s Theatre Studies program and Department of Music. The venue can also be rented out by members of the community. The Dr. Steel Recital Hall, a 200-seat space located in Steel Building, underwent a much-needed renovation, also as a result of the fundraising campaign.
Dr. Greg Doran, co-ordinator of theatre studies and chair of the English department, says the new spaces mean a lot to both students and faculty.
“It's a huge benefit, certainly when we are looking at recruiting,” Dr. Doran said. “I'm thrilled. We're talking a state-of-the-art facility and that's a huge selling point when students are making the decision. We were lagging a little behind in terms of our infrastructure and I think we're catching up and making us look like an attractive option to students.”
Now, Doran said he can put on plays that previous spaces couldn't support.
Dr. Dale Sorensen, chair of the UPEI Music Department, said upgrades to the Dr. Steel Recital Hall improve the facility while maintaining its “wonderful” acoustics. The space has a fresh coat of paint, new seating and flooring, and a rebuilt stage.
“It's incredible,” Dr. Sorensen said. As a student at UPEI, “I spent all day, every day in the building and practising on this stage whenever I possibly could. It's a very attractive place for both the faculty now and our students and future students to perform.”
Among other things, he said, the new Performing Arts Centre will let the UPEI Wind Symphony perform in a more comfortable and spacious venue.
Approximately $2 million has been raised so far for the spaces, allowing the music department to buy new percussion equipment and stands for sheet music. Funds also went towards new sound equipment at the Performing Arts Centre. Faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of UPEI had an opportunity to become involved in the campaign by naming or dedicating a seat in the new space or in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall. In recognition for a donation of $5,000, a plaque engraved with the donor’s name or dedication is installed for the life of the seat. There are still seats left for people to dedicate.
The SDU Board of Governors made a significant leadership gift to the Dr. Steel Recital Hall renovations, resulting in the naming of the “SDU Stage”; a number of other individual donors also gave gifts over and above the seat dedication.
