Voices of Unity Choir unique arts program

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

“Choir” just doesn’t quite cover it. The Voices of Unity Youth Choir is so much more, according to leader and founder Marshall White.

Fresh off a five-hour rehearsal, White said the group is looking forward to taking the stage at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, April 26.

The choral group is actually returning to the Niswonger stage after a much-loved and appreciated appearance with Livingston Taylor in 2011.

“The audience was extremely receptive last time and they loved the kids,” White said, adding “it was a beautiful environment to perform in.”

White’s passion for diversity and youth development led him to start the choir in 2000. At that time, he was disheartened by the lack of music and arts organizations for minorities. “I grew up in Fort Wayne and have been into the music scene here for years,” White said, adding, “and I always wondered why African-American and Hispanic kids were not involved in structural art forms.”

White set about to change that and he devoted the next seven years of his life conducting surveys and case studies.

“We found that less than three percent of minority kids in the Allen County community were involved in arts outside of their churches,” White said. “That was unacceptable.”

A short while later, Voices of Unity youth choir was born. The group provided a platform for kids from a variety of backgrounds to receive much more than singing lessons.

“At first, we were really trying to attract minorities, and we did,” White said, “but more than that, we wanted to get kids introduced to an arts concept that gave them structure and discipline.”

Throughout the years, the group has honed its “soulful art forms” curriculum and has created an educational platform out of mainstream music that kids can relate to, White said.

“We coupled that with youth development,” he added. “Not only will kids get a lot of strong, relevant art forms they can relate to, but they get life-building principles and they learn the essentials of being successful. We teach these kids how to have confidence, self-esteem and believe in themselves.”

It’s working … and working quite well. The group has shared the stage with Roberta Flack, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, Kelly Clarkson, and other notable performers. Voices of Unity youth choir was also named one of the top 50 arts and humanities-based programs in the country serving youths beyond school hours, a recognition announced by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

In 2010, the group competed at the sixth World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China, an event known as the “Choir Olympics” where over 400 choirs from more than 80 countries were represented. The choir won two gold medals and was also named Grand World Champions in the gospel and spiritual category.

The fun for these kids, ages 7-19, doesn’t stop there as the group prepares for two upcoming events that will take the choir to Carnegie Hall in June, followed by a trip to Latvia in July for the eighth World Choir Games.

“They’re both incredible opportunities for these kids,” White said, adding that the choir was invited to be a part of the Choirs of America in New York. While there, choir members will take in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple and will also perform in Harlem.

In Latvia, Voices of Unity will compete against approximately 800 other choirs representing 112 countries. “This is going to be an unbelievable experience for our kids as well,” White said. “It’s kind of like being at the Olympics, and they will get to interact with people from all over the world and learn about all the different cultures.”

The upcoming trips reinforce White’s philosophy that “opportunities produce possibilities; possibilities produce dreams; dreams produce hope; and hope gives kids a reason to live.”

“We’ve broken down a lot of stereotypes and provided these kids an educational platform on how to distinguish themselves,” White said, adding that Voices of Unity prides itself on being a “soulful” choral group. “We teach them how to tell the difference between tasteful and tasteless music, as well as recognizing music that has no sense of encouragement or entertainment.”

The choir performs different genres of music, including jazz, spiritual, gospel, hip-hop and R & B. At the Niswonger, they will perform a few selections to pay tribute to Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, along with a variety of other selections.

White is quick to point out that members of the group are not “at-risk” or low-income youths, but do represent a variety of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Together, group members take on life’s challenges through music and the arts.

“They are learning how to deal with challenges, mistakes and setbacks,” White said. “We teach them how to deal with divorce, suicide, depression, and all of these things that haunt children. “We literally tackle every area of life, including drugs, sex and pregnancy, work ethics, and things I guess you don’t normally see or hear about in a choral program.”

“When people say ‘choir,’ they just don’t understand,” White said. “We are so much more than a choir. So much more.”

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and guests will be greeted by the sounds of Jake Wilder on the grand piano in the Niswonger lobby. Also at 6:30 p.m., the Community Concert Series 2014-15 will be unveiled with a dessert gala in the upper lobby for Community Concert directors, members and sponsors. This event is sponsored by Vancrest Healthcare Center.

At 7:30 p.m., Terra Brantley of WANE-TV will introduce the “pride of Fort Wayne”, the Voices of Unity Youth Choir.

Van Wert Federal Savings Bank has provided a donation to allow 50 students and staff from the Marsh Foundation to experience the concert. A “Celebration of Inspiration” reception will take place immediately following the concert, where White will spend time with the Marsh Foundation guests, event sponsors and Niswonger members.