ABOUT US
Quinte's Premier School of Music for Over 25 Years
Pinnacle Music School is one of the largest Music schools in Eastern Ontario and the largest in the Quinte area. Our teachers are dedicated, qualified Music teachers whoes goal is to instill a love of music in each student as well as promote musical excellence in whatever instrument they choose.
Pinnacle Music Studios has been operating as a highly regarded business in Downtown Belleville for over 25 years. It was started by Janet and Ken Harnden at 214 Pinnacle Street then they moved to its current location at 261 Front Street.
The main floor at 261 Front was the retail department that sold sheet music, musical instruments, accessories and in particular, pianos & keyboards. A distinguishing feature of Pinnacle Music was that it was the only authorized dealer of Yamaha Pianos in Eastern Ontario. Pinnacle Music Studios has been awarded the Readers Choice Favorite Music Store Award the past 17 years and in 2005 was awarded Business Of The Year – Retail at Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards.
Our New Home
Apart from the main floor retail activities, the entire second floor of 261 Front Street had been and continues to be a teaching studio comprising of 10 individual teaching rooms and a large waiting area. The staff at the teaching studio has enjoyed an excellent reputation for its professionalism and experience, devoted to teaching more than 500 local families downtown at the studio each week.
In summer of 2020, Janet and Ken closed the retail business. “The success of Pinnacle Music Studios would not have been possible without this incredible community we are so proud to be a part of.”
Since then, the Pinnacle teachers have continued to teach from the second-floor teaching studios of 261 Front Street until moving to our new home in September of 2022.
Pinnacle Music School is now located today at 360 Pinnacle Street, in partnership with the Empire Theatre Group. The building is easy to spot on Pinnacle Street as it is called “The Pinnacle”. Our new home is a large purpose-built music teaching facility with over 16 large teaching studios, complete with a onsite music store, named “Your Music Store” and a large performance hall for recitals and events for our students.
Discover The Empire
The Empire Theatre not only hosts recitals and performances for Pinnacle Music School but also provides students with the chance to interact with well-known musical artists as part of our programs. This type of engagement can have a profound impact on students’ musical education and overall development.
By offering a platform for school recitals and performances, The Empire Theatre contributes to the growth and confidence of young performers. These opportunities allow students to showcase their talents on a professional stage, gaining valuable experience in front of an audience. This experience can boost their self-esteem, improve their performance skills, and nurture a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
The Empire Theatre saw its official opening on September 13th, 2003. Since then, The Empire Theatre has played host to many renowned artists since its opening including: Paul Rodgers, Slash (Guns n’ Roses), Lindsey Buckingham, Meatloaf, Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Thorogood, Steve Earle, Alice Cooper, Stone Temple Pilots, Toto, David Wilcox, Blue Rodeo, Sum 41, and many more.
