It’s oftentimes refreshing to hear about small businesses making an impact in the community.
Two small businesses have been the focus for one professional musician in northeastern Indiana.
Alicia Pyle owns and operates both PyleStyle Events and PyleStyle Academy.
PyleStyle Events provides live music for a wide variety of events in the area, hiring from a list of more than 200 local musicians and bands for these occasions. The company was born out of a need for a diverse talent pool for events in the area.
Pyle has been performing since she was just 15 years old. While she formed a band or two and performed a lot of live music herself, Pyle says that a lot of people would call looking for someone to fill a spot that she thought would be best filled by someone else.
“But sometimes people call and what they’re looking for isn’t what’s in my wheelhouse,” Pyle told Whatzup in an interview.
Understanding what flavor of performer or band that the caller sought, Pyle would always make sure to connect them to someone she knew would be a good fit for the role.
Eventually, it became a business that would leave an impact on the local music scene during a time of need.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PyleStyle Events hosted a two-part fundraiser that raised more than $16,000 for local musicians.
At times, the business will also donate live music to organizations who cannot afford it.
Pyle, however, spends most of her time offering music education through PyleStyle Academy, where she teaches around 90 students of all ages and skill levels on a weekly basis in piano, voice, and ukulele.
Ultimately, she wants to see the academy expand into a bigger space and offer lessons for more instruments.
The academy hosts two recitals annually and has even held one at The Clyde Theatre.
“It’s really fun,” Pyle said. “Just to see all the kids get up and perform. I love that.”
She added that the recitals also feature characters such as Santa Claus and superheroes.
“[We] try to make it a fun performance experience. I like encouraging kids to perform and want to share their music with others. It’s a good skillset and it helps them with other parts of their lives no matter what they go into.”
Whenever there is a need in the performing community, it seems that Pyle has been there to fill it in one way or another.
Whether it be connecting organizations and performers, raising funds to help local musicians during a global pandemic, or training the next generation of Indiana-grown stars, Pyle’s lasting contributions to local arts and culture fit the mold of a Liddell Award honoree.
