Our Commitment

Alyssa Noble currently serves as the Operations Manager for Pearl Arts, Inc. Alyssa received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a specialization in Public Relations from Indiana University. After college, she took a position with the Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and immersed herself in professional sports. When she returned to Indiana, Alyssa started her career at Sweetwater Sound and held many positions within the company during her 5 years there. After working for a local healthcare foundation, Alyssa came on board at Pearl Arts, the perfect blend of music and philanthropy. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting new places, serving on the Board of Directors at McMillen Health and cheering on her Hoosiers!

Derek Brown is passionate about creating meaningful musical experiences that inspire creativity, curiosity, and community. He joined Pearl Arts as Director of Music Programs in 2026, bringing experience as an internationally acclaimed saxophonist, composer, educator, and creator of the innovative “BEATBoX SAX” project. Derek has performed and taught clinics in all 50 states and more than 25 countries, earning over 30 million social media views. Before joining Pearl Arts, he served as Director of Jazz Studies at Abilene Christian University. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance and jazz studies, and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Composition from the University of Southern California in 2025.

Rachel Gripp loves to take her Oboe on the road, performing freelance throughout both Northeast Indiana and Muncie, Indiana, home to her alma mater Ball State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree for both Oboe Performance and Business Administration as well as a Master of Music degree. Rachel has no shortage of musical influences, including her talented immediate family. Her mother is a pianist, her father is a guitarist and bassoonist, and her brother is a bassist. She also loves to listen to recordings of her favorite oboists Elaine Douvas and Albrecht Mayer. Rachel says she loves music for its power, as a universal language, to connect hearts and souls in a way no other art form can. When not performing or teaching, Rachel enjoys to cook and bake.

Anna Sewell has been playing piano since she was six years old, but she’s since expanded her repertoire to include proficiency in both the drums and singing/songwriting. Having grown up performing in Bloomington, IL, Anna is now finding opportunities to perform in Fort Wayne, where she is completing a double major in Music Business and Commercial Music at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Anna views music as a form of therapy, connecting people from all over the world and empowering them to process hard times. Her favorite artists include Trampled by Turtles, Dodie, and Cage the Elephant. Outside of her musical interests, Anna loves to spend time outdoors, engage in deep conversations with friends and family, and spoil her cats Maisie and Millie.

Gabe Pinkerton comes from a musical family, finding his love for music by listening to and watching others play, seeing the joy that it spreads. Rooted in a love for music, he learned to play percussion, spreading the joy of music himself. Currently, he studies Music Industry at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he is currently completing his bachelor’s degree. In his free time, Gabe enjoys a wide variety of sports. His favorite teams include the Green Bay Packers, Alabama Crimson Tide, and his favorite golfer, Scottie Scheffler. He loves to play pickleball, tennis, and golf. In addition to sports, Gabe enjoys spending quality time with his dog, Winnie.

Kat Calabrese brings over a decade of nonprofit experience and a deep love for community building and creative expression. Kat holds a BA in Sociology and an MA in Applied Sociology from the University of Indianapolis. She grew up taking piano lessons, playing clarinet in the school band, and loving every moment she could be involved in theatre. She is thrilled to be fusing her fundraising expertise with her passion for music and the arts. When she isn’t fundraising, Kat loves spending time with her husband Chris, family, friends, and their cats: Ravioli, Chuckie, and Leslie Kneowpe. In her free time, you can find her hunting for treasures at local thrift stores, diving into role-playing games, or playing upright bass with her newgrass band, The Whipstitch Sallies.

Olivia Dickerson Howe brings six years of Event Management & Hospitality Experience. A Fort Wayne native, Olivia is deeply rooted in her community and is passionate about contributing to its continued growth and sense of connection. Her thoughtful approach and enthusiasm help create welcoming, engaging environments that bring people together around a shared purpose.