Under the Spire Staff
For general inquiries, please email music@underthespire.ca or call 902-836-4933
Board of Directors
We are now seeking new board members! Learn more information here.
Our board can be contacted at board@underthespire.ca. Please allow a few days to hear back.
Juliana Elsinga, Chair
I moved to PEI when I was almost six, so technically, I am “from away”. My parents were both beautiful singers, and I have sung all my life. My favourite performances have mostly been in St. Mary’s for shows and weddings. I love choral music and this fabulous place is the best showcase there is for voice. I am honoured to be part of the Under the Spire’s board and we are look forward to many more years of wonderful musical experiences under the spire.
Scott Green, Vice-Chair
I was introduced to the Under The Spire Festival over 12 years ago and since then we have not missed a season, enjoying many performances.
As my husband is from Darnley PEI, we look forward every year to the start of cottage season when we can begin spending as much time as possible at the family cottages. Our goal is to move to the Island permanently in the near future. My 25 year career was in business, and since moving towards retirement I have been working with not for profit organizations. I was drawn to Under the Spire because of its focus on diversity and inclusion, bringing the community together with various types of performances.
Beth Orford, Treasurer
My husband and I purchased a cottage overlooking Darnely Basin in 2019 after visiting PEI, on and off, from 1985. I grew up in the shadow of the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts and my husband grew up with three music teachers. Music is woven into who we are and that is why I am a volunteer and board member of this extraordinary organization.
John Ruetz, Secretary
John has been spending his summers on PEI since 2009 and has been living full time in Malpeque for the last two years. John enjoys music of all genres, particularly folk music, and has enjoyed discovering new singer-songwriters at UTS. John has had a long career in health care leadership, and is currently working with a group of 125 health organizations located across Canada. He has a particular interest in governance, as well as strategic planning, risk identification and mitigation, and financial oversight.
Will Howard – Director
Will lives in Montague and has been a festival goer since 2007. Will loves playing music as well as watching it being performed, and is currently grappling with an instrument collecting addiction that has expanded beyond instruments he’s even able to play. Please send help (or a tuba, he hasn’t got one of those yet).
Corinne Osborne-Fraser – Director
Originally from Nova Scotia, Corinne and her husband purchased a cottage in Malpeque in 2003 and looks forward for returning to her happy place in PEI every summer. Corinne volunteered with UTS in 2024 and thoroughly enjoyed all elements of her volunteer experience . Corinne is a retired professional engineer with no musical experience but deeply appreciates the acoustics of St. Mary’s and the magic that happens here! She is thrilled to be part of an organization that inspires patrons and artists alike so deeply. Corinne is looking forward to continuing volunteering, and applying her analytical and problem solving skills to her position as a Board member at UTS.
Kandy Simpson-Ziedenberg – Director
I was born and raised on PEI. I graduated from UPEI with a BBA, later obtaining my CPA accounting
designation. I worked in Toronto, Ontario as an Audit Manager with the Canada Revenue Agency. Upon retiring, my husband and I moved to Bedford, Nova Scotia. We’ve owned a summer cottage near Cavendish for the past 30 years and in summer 2024, we returned to live on the Island full-time.
My husband and I love various genres of music. We’ve been supporters of the Under the Spire for most of its time in existence and we’ve loved serving as volunteers for the past few years. I feel UTS is the absolute best venue for live performances and I am so pleased and
honoured to have been invited to join the UTS Board of Directors.
Charlotte Sullivan – Director
Charlotte was born and raised in Summerside and recently moved home to the Island after a decade of studying to start her career in Charlottetown as a lawyer. She loves live music, discovering new artists, and has a particular soft spot for choral music. She has an interest in governance and accessibility issues. Charlotte is eager to volunteer her time and expertise to further the extraordinary work done by UTS in showcasing a variety of talent to Islanders every year.
Under the Spire Foundations
In all that we do, our staff and board operate according to the following foundational values.
Guiding Principles:
- Build and Engage our Communities
- Strive for Cultural and Artistic Excellence
- Celebrate and Invite Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Be Progressive and Welcome Change
- Be Transparent and Accountable
- Have Fun and Look for the Magic
VISION (why we do what we do)
An ever-evolving legacy of exceptional musical (and magical) experiences for audiences and musicians alike for generations to come.
MISSION (what we do)
To present exceptional musical experiences that showcase the unparalleled acoustic of Historic St. Mary’s.
To foster a vibrant and ever-evolving legacy of classical music, diverse genres, and a sense fo community through a dynamic blend of conservation and innovation.
MANDATE (how we do what we do)
We preserve and promote the acoustic wonder of Historic St. Mary’s.
We create further opportunities for community building with diverse genres of music as the connector.
We promote under the Spire as the place to experience classical music in North America.
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
You will be transported, moved and changed by an exceptional musical performance that will allow you to connect with the artist in an intimate and unique setting.