adam young

At the ripe old age of five, Adam began learning to play the piano. In the two decades since, he has gained proficiency on the instrument, and has become quite well-known in the local music community.

Although he grew up surrounded by music, his interest in all things Celtic didn't surface until well into his teens, when he began learning the Cape Breton style of piano accompaniment. Although he has taken lessons from a few of the Island's best teachers, Adam's style has developed from a unique blend of all of the musicians who have inspired him over the years.

Adam grew up performing in front of audiences; he played his first gig at age seven, and hasn't stopped since. Over the years, he has played for a number of diverse productions, from Riverview High School's dramatic production A'Dhachaidh A'Rithist (Home Again), to a series of cabarets produced by the Festival on the Bay in Glace Bay, to a UCCB Dramagroup production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, for which he acted as musical director and wrote several original score pieces.

After graduating from high school in 1998, Adam earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cape Breton University (at the time known as the University College of Cape Breton). His double major was in English literature and Celtic Studies, and he took several courses on music, history, and folklore, all of which he has put to good use in his current role.

After graduating from UCCB in 2002, he gathered together six good friends to produce a music and comedy revue, and the group became known as Cape Breton Lyrics & Laughter. The first year was a resounding success, and the group has just entered its fourth season at the Louisbourg Playhouse. Over 27,000 people have seen the show, and the milestone 300th performance will be held in August 2007.

In addition to directing and performing in Lyrics and Laughter, Adam has accompanied some of the Island's best known talents, including familiar names like Howie MacDonald, Matt Minglewood, and Ashley MacIsaac. Along with a few of the cast members of Lyrics & Laughter, he had the opportunity to play at the Sabhal Mòr Òstaig on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and has toured with Jennifer Roland across New England and down the Eastern Seaboard. In addition, he has recently taken over as webmaster for Castlebay Music, a local online music store featuring recordings and other works from local artists, and hasn't quit his day job—he works for Service Canada, as well.