Fostering Community Through Performing Arts

Welcome to Canal Winchester Performing Arts Collective, where we believe in the power of performing arts to inspire, educate, and unite our community.

Who We Are...

2026 Summer Workshops

The CWPAC 2026 Summer Workshops are in partnership with the Canal Winchester Joint Recreation District

and all registration is submitted through their external site.

Workshop fees are designed to cover the cost of the session Teaching Artist and support the Canal Winchester Performing Arts Collective.

Discover Handbells

In this 1.5 hour interactive session, we'll explore how to properly ring and different techniques to play handbells in an informal ensemble setting. By the end of the session we'll have played through one or two easy songs to provide a sense of what all goes into a handbell ensemble (start to finish). No previous musical experience is required.

The session is led by Konrad Deeg, who has been playing for ~25 years and directed academic and community ensembles on 2 continents.

All ages/skill levels are welcome*

No previous experience required

Where? David's United Church of Christ

80 W. Columbus Street, Canal Winchester

When? Sunday, July 19th

2:00 - 3:30 PM

Cost? $15 per individual

* Individual participants must be aged 10 or older.

Broadway Musical Theatre Workshops

In this 2 hour experience every participant will experience the joy of producing a portion of a famous Musical. We will learn some dialogue, a song and choreography that make that show a hit. The vocal music will be made available to you a week before the workshop date to help you feel your most comfortable. Each Broadway Musical Theatre session will conclude with a short public performance for our friends and family. You'll need to sign up for each session individually.

Saturday, July 11 – Frozen

Saturday, July 18 – The Lion King

No previous experience required. All ages/skill levels welcome. Any participants younger than 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult participant*

Minimum participants – 4

Maximum participants – 40

Location – David Evangelical Lutheran Church

All ages/skill levels are welcome*

No previous experience required

Where? David Evangelical Lutheran Church

300 Groveport Road, Canal Winchester

When? Saturday, June 11th & July 18th

1:00 - 3:00 PM

Cost? $15 per session

Community Drum Circle

Enjoy those amazing drum rhythms in our Community Drum Circle. In this fun experience you'll learn basic drumming skills, and the art of playing and listening to each other, in an improvisational, but informal setting. Students will learn to build community with other participants while being immersed in African and African Diasporic culture through their various drumming traditions. While some African drums can be provided, participants are invited to bring their personal drum.

No minimum participants

25 maximum participants

All ages/skill levels are welcome*. No previous experience required.

Some drums and chairs can be supplied, but if you already have a drum, feel free to bring it and a chair with you!

Where? Stradley Pavillion

28 S. High Street, Canal Winchester

This event will be moved to an indoors if weather dictates.

When? Saturday, June 28th

2:00 - 3:30 PM

Cost? $20 per session

*Participants younger than 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult participant.

Taiko Drumming Workshop

This hands-on workshop will introduce taiko, the festival drumming of Japan using movement, vocalization and stance. Taiko, brought to Japan by Chinese Buddhist monks, was made famous by Eitetsu Hayashi & the Kodo drummers of Sado Island. Each workshop incorporates a wide variety of information and meets the fine arts-music content standard for: Historical, Cultural and Social Contexts and Creative Expression and Communication.

All ages/skill levels are welcome*

No previous experience required

Where? Stradley Pavillion

28 S. High Street, Canal Winchester

This event will be moved to an indoors if weather dictates.

When? Saturday, June 13th

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Cost? $20 per individual

*Participants younger than 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult participant.

Discover Steel Drums

Nothing is more infectious than the sound of a Steel Drum on a summer day. Canal Winchester has the oldest and most active Steel Band program in Central Ohio. We want you to join the fun! There's no previous music experience needed for this hour and a half workshop. We'll learn a few simple songs through imitation and simple notation. By the end we'll have a real Steel Band!
The session is led by Winchester Steel Co. director, Todd Phillips. Todd Phillips has multiple degrees in Music Education and has led the Steel Band program in Canal Winchester since its creation in 2000.

No music reading or previous music experience required*

Participants must be aged 10 and up

Where? David's United Church of Christ

80 West Columbus Street, Canal Winchester

When? Saturday, June 27th & Sunday, August 2nd

2:00 - 3:30 PM

Cost? $10 per session

Samba Drumming Workshop

The parade music of Brazil includes drums and hand-held percussion instruments. This hands-on workshop will use observation, imitation, inquiry and discussion to teach parade rhythms of Brazil using agogo, tambourim and surdo. Each workshop incorporates a wide variety of information and meets the fine arts-music content standard for: Historical, Cultural and Social Contexts and Creative Expression and Communication.

All ages/skill levels are welcome*

No previous experience required

Where? Stradley Pavillion

28 S. High Street, Canal Winchester

This event will be moved to an indoors if weather dictates.

When? Sunday, June 14th

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Cost? $20 per individual

*Participants younger than 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult participant.

Storytelling with BalletMet

Have you ever wondered how a ballet can tell a story without using words? In this workshop we will learn just that! Spend an hour with BalletMet Columbus’ education department as we learn the fundamentals of movement and turn one of your favorite storybooks into a ballet. This session is focused on the educational standards of 8-12 year olds. The session will conclude with a short public performance for our friends and family.

No previous experience required. Open to participants ages 8 to 12.

Where? Columbus Metropolitan Library - CW Branch

123 Groveport Rd, Canal Winchester

When? Sunday, June 7th

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Cost? $0 (FREE!)

Services

OUR PROGRAMS

Enriching Lives through the Arts

Music Opportunities

Experience the beauty of performing and listening to live music through our variety of ensembles featuring the most talented local artists and musicians... You!

Dance Opportunities

Our dance opportunities are under development. Whether you want to join a flash mob, take a master class, or do some musical theatre, we will soon have a place for you!

Theatre Opportunities

Theatre is all around us... it's on a stage or it's right in the middle of the street! Our street theatre and improv troupes have a lot of fun. Want a more structured script? Well, that's coming too!

"Thursday nights are my favorite! I'm so grateful for the opportunity to sing and connect with a group of amazing people! After a year, I've already improved so much in my reading skills and musicality. It brings me so much joy that I get to sing with my grandfather, who shares the passion for choral music like I do!"

- Carlee McGonigle

Engaging the Community

100+

20+

Unique Ensembles

Active Participants

Annual Performances

Community Partners

(and counting!)

About

Our Commitment to Community through Performing

The Canal Winchester Performing Arts Collective is dedicated to fostering creativity, diversity, and artistic growth across the greater Central Ohio community. We strive to provide a welcoming and supportive environment where individuals can explore, learn, develop, and collaborate in various performing arts experiences.

Supported by local organizations and generous individuals

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Canal Winchester Area Historical Society

Canal Winchester Joint Recreation District

Individual Donors & Community Sponsors