Today marks a very special milestone for Under the Spire—our 30th anniversary as a nonprofit organization. Three decades ago on January 25th, we embarked on a journey that would forever change the future of Historic St. Mary’s and the musical landscape of Prince Edward Island.
Board member Will Howard shares a special message with us to celebrate today:
“30 years of magical, musical experiences! I am honoured to have been a small part of the incredible history our community, volunteers, and staff have built—from the early days of the Indian River Festival to today’s Under the Spire. So much hard work and dedication from so many have preserved the beauty of Historic St. Mary’s and the musical spirit of PEI for future generations to enjoy. Here’s to the music, the memories, and an exciting future together!”
The humble beginnings of our concert series go back to 1987, when a community effort to fundraise for St. Mary’s restoration efforts found success in showcasing music at the venue. The architect of the 1902 build, William Critchlow Harris, stated that the iconic vaulted ceiling was inspired by sound resonating through the inside of a violin. It only makes sense that the venue has now found itself home to one of PEI’s most loved annual concert series. As the initial fundraising concert series saw success, it continued on as an annual ‘Sundays in the Summer’ concert series. The volunteer force behind the endeavour was quickly stretched to its capacity with the success they were seeing, and it was decided that a more focused and permanent entity was needed to be put in place – which is when our nonprofit organization was founded.
In the past 30 years, the organization has evolved and grown in ways that could not have been imagined at the time of the first concert in 1987. Our 30-concert season attracts people to Historic St. Mary’s from across the country, the United States and beyond – patrons and artists alike. The decades of magic created here are evident by the memories, experiences and feelings within the space. Our organization began with community, and continues with community to this day. Historic St. Mary’s has been a gathering place for the community since its construction in 1902, the beginnings of music were powered by community, and now community ensures the ongoing success of Under the Spire.
Has it already been 30 years?
Executive director Jen Bartlett helps us to reflect on just how much time has passed.
1995. The number one movie was Toy Story, and we were all watching The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. TLC, Boys II Men, Madonna, and Mariah Carey topped the music charts. The New Jersey Devils won the Stanley cup, the 49ers won the Superbowl, and the Braves won the World Series. Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf were king and queen of the tennis courts, and Jean Chretien was our Prime Minister. Scrunchies, acid washed jeans and jelly shoes reigned supreme, and everyone wanted Jennifer Aniston’s hair, “The Rachel.” The slang of the day was all about being cool and sarcastic: “Talk to the hand” or my personal favourite, “As if!”
It was in this year that the Indian River Festival was born. A dream came to fruition, and momentum began to build. Our community started counting down the days to the festival when Historic St. Mary’s would sing once more.
For three decades, this festival has been a living, breathing celebration of music, culture, and the boundless spirit of our community. Through every note played and every hand clapped, the festival has woven a tapestry of memories that enrich our hearts and inSPIRE us all.
As we mark this incredible milestone, we reflect on the many ways Under the Spire has not only brought world-class music to our doorstep but has also created a space for connection, creativity, and joy. The festival’s legacy is not just in the performances or the notes sung; it’s in the lives touched and the community nurtured.
Here’s to 30 years of extraordinary music, and to many more years of lifting us up, uniting us, and filling our lives with the beauty of sound. Under the Spire is so grateful for every moment you have all shared with us. Join us this summer to celebrate our 30th! Happy Birthday, Indian River Festival/Under the Spire!”
Restoring a historic piece of Malpeque Bay’s iconic landscape and presenting the best live music to our patrons is an incredible honour. St. Mary’s is being restored to its prime state, and musicians continue to discover the joy of performance at our idyllic venue. Reflecting on 30 years of success is an incredible motivator for the many years we have ahead of us. There are always new things to discover under the spire!
Here are some closing thoughts from more board members.
John Ruetz shares:
“To me, Under the Spire is all about discovery – whether that’s a new artist or a new genre. Some of my favourite singer-songwriters are artists that I was introduced to through the wonderful programming at Under the Spire. A performance in Historic St. Mary’s can unlock so much!”
Beth Orford shares:
“While I only came to know Under the Spire and Historic St. Mary’s recently, I’ve had the honor to meet many of the individuals who had the vision and passion to launch this endeavor 30 years ago.
Under the Spire is one the highlights of every summer that Bill and I spend on PEI. We show it off to visitors and have had the pleasure of introducing it to friends we’ve met on PEI. Music has been in our lives from our early years. Bill’s parents and sister taught music and I lived in western Massachusetts where the Boston Symphony Orchestra spends the summer at Tanglewood. To have Under the Spire ten minutes from our summer cottage is a gift. It connects us to the community, it introduces us to new artists and music and envelopes us in the beauty of the historic space. I want to express my deep gratitude to the founders and early contributors who have made this summer festival such an important part of our lives on PEI.”
Are you interested in hearing stories from patrons and volunteers of Under the Spire? Be sure to read some interviews from our Community Spotlight Series – a special celebration in honour of our 30th year!
You can also explore past season programs and other materials from previous seasons on our archive page.