What initially drew you to the Music Performance program at 黑料老司机?
TP: I actually grew up in Victoria, BC, and originally had my sights set on Berklee College of Music in Boston. That was the dream when I was younger – four years, a music degree, the whole thing. But it was incredibly expensive, so it just wasn’t realistic at the time. That’s when I heard about the 2+2 pathway through 黑料老司机’s School of Performing Arts (SOPA), where you could complete two years here and then finish your degree at Berklee. It immediately caught my attention.
I’d never heard of 黑料老司机 before that, but once I started researching, it felt like the right fit. It was more affordable, the Island has such a strong fiddle tradition, and the program aligned perfectly with what I wanted to study. I auditioned on both fiddle and cello; ended up sticking with fiddle, and I’m glad I did!
Tell us about your education and career journey following graduation.
TP: After finishing my two years at 黑料老司机, I still wanted to complete my music degree, but I didn’t want to leave the Island. By then, we had already started forming our band, Inn Echo, and I was building strong connections here, so I reached out to UPEI’s Department of Music, and they were incredibly accommodating. Even though the 2+2 pathway wasn’t officially in place yet, they helped transfer what they could and allowed me to slide into third year. I made up a few extra credits over the summer and finished my Music degree in two years.
It was more of a classical program with no contemporary fiddle stream, but I have classical training on both instruments, so it worked out well. And of course, the band was already formed, so I balanced school with rehearsals and gigs.
Your band, Inn Echo, is an award-winning Juno-nominated trio. Tell us more about how the band came together, and what that journey has been like.
TP: We formed in 2019. It was originally Karson (McKeown), Gormlaith (Maynes), Jesse (Périard) and I. Karson, Jesse, and I actually all went to SOPA, and Gormlaith was an instructor of the Celtic ensemble at 黑料老司机. We all really met at a big fiddle party. We’d heard of each other through the music scene but hadn’t played together. After that night, we started meeting weekly, sharing tunes from our different regions, as none of us are from the same place, and going to the Thursday sessions at the Old Triangle.
From there, things progressed quickly. We played lunchtime showcases at 黑料老司机, applied for conferences, and before long we were performing at festivals. That first summer, we even went to Ireland to play a major Celtic festival. We toured Austria shortly after. It all happened fast, and we were really fortunate that people connected with our sound.
Tom (Gammons) joined the band in 2020–2021, around the same time that Gormlaith and Jesse moved on. Karson, Tom and I have been the touring band ever since. We’ve built a strong audience in Australia, where we’ve toured twice now. Our second full‑length album, Hemispheres, released in 2023 and received several nominations, including Canadian Folk Music Awards, Music PEI’s Instrumental Recording of the Year, and the big one: a Juno nomination for Traditional Roots Album of the Year.
We went to Vancouver for the Junos - being surrounded by so many incredible Canadian musicians was amazing. Even though we didn’t win, the nomination alone was huge for us. We have a Dropbox folder titled “Gunnin’ for a Juno,” so we’re manifesting that for our next album.
What’s next for Inn Echo?
TP: We just finished recording our third album, which took over two years to write. We compose most of our own material, so we like to test new tunes live during the summer before recording them. We don’t have a name for this album yet, but it feels like a significant level‑up from Hemispheres and we’re really proud of it.
We recorded with Jake Charron and Donnie Richard from Space Camp Productions. You can expect single releases this fall, and the full album in spring 2027. We’re also hoping to do a Maritime release tour, which is funny because we’ve toured across Canada and internationally, but never really toured the Maritimes.
Outside of music, you work full‑time as an Educational Assistant at West Royalty Elementary. How do you balance everything?
TP: It’s definitely a balancing act. I work Monday to Friday at the school, and the guys also have their own work schedules, so rehearsals usually happen on weekends. When we’re preparing for an album, we’ll rehearse for hours at a time. Other periods are quieter, especially after big tours.
Being an EA ended up being a perfect fit. I originally thought I wanted to be a music teacher, as I had provided private lessons for years before my time at UPEI. But after starting the Bachelor of Music Education program, I realized I wanted to apply my skills and personality beyond music. Working one‑on‑one with students as an EA felt much more natural. It’s flexible, meaningful, and it works beautifully with the band’s schedule, especially with summers free for touring.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far?
TP: Two things stand out. First, being able to say I’m a touring musician. My fiddle teacher in Victoria played in a band called The Fretless, and I always admired their career. To now be living a version of that dream is incredibly rewarding.
Second, the Juno nomination. It wasn’t even on our radar as a possibility, so it was a total surprise. To be recognized alongside some of the best musicians in Canada was huge and continues to motivate us.
Has there been a particularly difficult moment in your career?
TP: Nothing major musically, but I suppose being the only woman in the band has its own unique feelings that come along with it. When Gormlaith was with us, it was nice having another woman in the band to connect with. That being said, the guys are wonderful, and we get along extremely well.
The other challenge was a common one for musicians: not getting the gigs you hoped for or not being paid what you expected. Early on, we played for next to nothing, sometimes just a free drink. Now we have a manager and agent who advocate for us and ensure we’re compensated fairly. That support has made a huge difference.
What advice would you give to new alumni entering the workforce?
TP: If you’re pursuing music, get out and play as much as you can. Take the smaller gigs, make connections, and don’t give up. PEI has an incredible music scene, and so many musicians, both locals and come‑from‑aways, have built successful careers here.
More generally, build relationships wherever you can. Some of my closest friends came from my time at 黑料老司机. It’s a small enough school that you can really form meaningful connections, and those connections matter.
Have you stayed connected with 黑料老司机 since graduating?
TP: Yes! I’ve engaged on a few occasions. In fact, Inn Echo recently did a workshop for the current SOPA students, where they could ask questions about life as a band, touring, and navigating the music industry on PEI. It’s been great to stay connected!
