In the 1970′s and 80′s St. Mary’s Church, located in the pastoral community of Indian River, Prince Edward Island, and now home to the Indian River Festival, was in a terrible state of disrepair and was under serious threat of demolishment. Thanks to the efforts of an entire community the “Save St. Mary’s” campaign was started and as part of those efforts a small concert series called “Sundays in the Summer” was launched. These concerts proved so successful and paired with the commitment from businesses, individuals and parish, the repairs were completed and paid for within three years. The concert series continued however and in 1996 The Indian River Festival was incorporated as a not-for-profit body that has continually maintained a mandate to offer stellar performances in a relaxed summer setting.
St. Mary’s Church, a stunning example of the French Gothic influence, was built in 1902. With a seating capacity of 500, it is one of the largest wooden churches on PEI and the sanctuary remains virtually untouched by a renovator’s hand. Artists of all genres and audience alike are overwhelmed by the beauty of the sound and the sanctuary and it remains the acoustical treasure that the architect envisioned.
The Festival reached a turning point in 1998 with the addition of Artistic Director, Robert Kortgaard to its staff. Under Mr. Kortgaard’s direction the Festival was able to expand its scope of programming and since that time has been privileged to present such artists as Isabel Bayrakdarian, Measha Brueggergosman, The Alcan String Quartet, Suzie LeBlanc, Les Voix Humaines, Kleztory, Kiran Ahluwalia, The Toronto Consort, musica intima, the late Doug Riley, and many more. In addition, the Festival is aware of the importance of traditional music in our Maritime culture and continually works to present music of this genre to preserve and promote our heritage. Jazz and world music are also presented and the Indian River Festival Youth Legacy Program provides performance and education opportunities for young artists.
Role played within the community
The cultural importance of the Indian River Festival to Prince Edward Island and especially outside of the capital region cannot be overstated. While there are many cultural activities to choose from on Prince Edward Island in the summer, there is no other comparable organization in the province offering this scope of programming in such a unique venue. Many of our artists perform exclusively at the Festival when on Prince Edward Island. For many, it is the only opportunity they would ever have to be able to see a particular artist in concert especially given the Festival’s commitment to make ticket prices affordable. The Festival has entered a bold new phase in its life in the purchase of its venue, St. Mary’s Church. With this exciting step brings great responsibility and a commitment to maintain and preserve the building for future generations for both its history and its place as a world class artistic venue in a unique setting.
