From the Desk of the Executive Director

School is finally out, and there is a summer rhythm that brings a special kind of joy to Pearl Arts.  The Music Academy is alive from morning to evening as the students fill the studios with music, laughter, and energy.   This is the time of year when students have the freedom to dive deeper into their music, explore new interests, and spend more time involved here — and we love every minute of it.

Pearl District Summer Arts Series is already proving to be a musical highlight for the community this summer.  The first Friday of every month through September, we invite guests to bring their lawn chairs and experience outstanding live music from local performers or enjoy the music from the patios of Amore’ or Ducky’s at the Pearl.  In May, Chuck Surack and the Sweetwater All-Stars attracted over 300 people and a lot of dancing on the street.  Please see the article in our newsletter for upcoming dates and artists.

Summer also means camp and ensemble season, and we are gearing up for some of our most exciting offerings yet.  Kevin Klee is leading the first Pearl Arts Summer Jazz Workshop from June 1^st through 5^th, with 41 students from all participating school districts. We are also excited about the following four ensembles/classes, which will be well attended this summer:

1. Summertime Strings of Pearl
2.  Summit City Flute Choir
3.  Level Up Players — a video game music class
4.  Jumpstart Beginning Band Workshop

All our summer camps and ensembles are designed to spark curiosity and build skills and confidence. These immersive experiences are often where students discover and begin to imagine what’s possible for their future, and we are grateful to be a part of that journey.

For a final highlight for this summer, what are you doing on Thursday, August 20^th?  Pearl Arts is joining Fort Wayne native and Nashville artist Keegan Ferrell at our 1^st annual Scholarship Dinner and Concert.  It will be a wonderful event, and all proceeds will support our tuition-support (scholarship) program, benefiting approximately 425 students this next school year.  Will you be a part of helping us?  We need table sponsors, event sponsors, and gift-in-kind sponsors.  Please reach out to me at angie.fincannon@pearlarts.org for more information.

As we step into this vibrant season, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to serve a community that values creativity and invests in young people. Thank you for supporting Pearl Arts and for helping us create a summer filled with music, growth, and unforgettable opportunities.

–Dr. Angie Fincannon, CEO and Executive Director, Pearl Arts