#PeopleofNEI: Alicia Pyle, supporting northeast Indiana's music scene

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Northeast Indiana is evolving. These are the people and places shaping its future. #PeopleofNEI #PlacesofNEI

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Alicia Pyle was born and raised in northeast Indiana. She lives in southwest Fort Wayne, and her family is from Huntington. She is a full-time musician and music teacher that recently created an online fundraiser at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak to raise money for local musicians. “The state orders were limiting public events and really impacting local musicians. We were able to raise over $13,000 for local independent musicians and contractors in Fort Wayne who solely rely on performance and the gig-economy for financial support and income. The fundraiser in no way benefitted myself and it was incredible to do something for others. Facebook started distributing funds within a week and I was able to start writing checks immediately to help people with rent, car payments, and money for groceries. Over 40 local musicians have been given checks. I hope that people see how important the arts and small businesses are. I hope that we all pay attention because of this pandemic about where to spend our money. Fort Wayne wasn’t super cool 20 years ago the way it is now but when I was 15, I saw that places like Arts United cared. Now, I am 33. They saw it coming. You could tell that people here care and it has kept me here. I’m not really concerned with the music scene outside of northeast Indiana. I care what is happening here. The arts and music is the fabric for what is happening here. We are creating a community for the next generation. We are seeing the fruits of that now, and the arts are so cool with so much invested time and talent. Each week, I teach about 60 to 65 kids. I resonate well with children and I love how music is passed down in an oral tradition in Fort Wayne. There are so many respectable musicians. I started messing around with music when I was eight and now I have built my life around it. I have paid for my school, home, and instruments all because of the music culture here in northeast Indiana. Music makes people happy and brings them together even when they have different political beliefs. It unifies us and that is why it is important. It’s the one language we all understand and the one thing that will bring us together.” #PeopleofNEI

A post shared by Input Fort Wayne (@inputfortwayne) on Jun 16, 2020 at 6:49am PDT

#PeopleofNEI: Alicia Pyle, supporting northeast Indiana’s music scene

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#PeopleofNEI: Alicia Pyle, supporting northeast Indiana’s music scene

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