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The Voices of Unity USA Choir Olympic Team
The Voices of Unity Youth Choir, (VOU) is a unique and exciting soulful choral group under the umbrella of the Unity Performing Arts Foundation (UPAF), a community-based multi-faceted performing arts organization, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
UPAF's signature choral program has risen to a premier status in a very short time. This choir provides urban and suburban children and youth in the Fort Wayne area the opportunity to learn, study and perform mainstream soulful music that is interesting and relevant to their generation. Music styles taught include jazz, spirituals, gospel, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, pop, and country.
VOU targets three areas of youth development: character, artistry and leadership development. In addition to singing, students are also exposed to activities that develop and build character through interaction with adult volunteers, youth leadership opportunities and training. Our curriculum includes peer-to-peer group activities that bolster self-confidence and provide life lessons that engender life success.
VOU positive and creative environment fosters discipline, teamwork, and professionalism. Our curriculum sets a standard of “excellence and nothing less” that brings even the most shy or most uncertain child out of his/her shell, instills confidence, and helps to improve every child’s ability to socially adapt to other people, cultures and environments. The empowering environment of The Voices of Unity is simply a life-changing experience for many children, teens and adults.
The membership of the Voices of Unity Youth Choir is a very strong statement of diversity Approximately 2% are African; 47% are African-American; 22% are bi-racial; 20% are Caucasian; and 9% are Latino. Approximately 60% are female and 40% are male. The membership covers 18 zip codes in the community and one student traveling from the Chicago area. Forty percent (40%) are on our scholarship assistance program.
In our short time of existence, the choir has accomplished many great things. VOU has had the opportunity to perform in professional settings with a high profile clientele. The choir has hosted numerous high-impact professional concerts on the campus of Indiana / Purdue University in Fort Wayne where their offices and operations reside. In addition, the choir has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Heather Headley, Roberta Flack, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Josh Groban, and with R&B sensation Keyshia Cole on the nationally televised NFL 2007 Kick-Off Celebration for the Indianapolis Colts.
The choir has also performed for several of the Indianapolis Colts events including the opening of the Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008. Bill Polian, President of the 2006 Super Bowl Champions, Indianapolis Colts, has officially endorsed The Voices of Unity. They also were named one of the top 50 arts and humanities-based programs in the country serving youth beyond school hours. The recognition was announced as part of the 2009 Coming Up Taller Awards, bestowed by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Director/Life Coach – Marshall White
Marshall White, founder of UPAF and director/life coach for the Voices of Unity, started the organization in 2000. He is married to Cindy and has four children. White has been shaping and molding young lives for more than 30 years. He is the former Music Director for twenty-two years at True Love Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, IN where his father, the late Rev. Jesse White, was the pastor.
He is the former director of the Black Voices of Inspiration at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN and led them on their first international singing tour of the South Pacific in 1999 along with the Varsity Glee Club of Purdue University. He is the former director of the Contemporary Chorale Choir at Northrop High School in Fort Wayne. He travels throughout the country speaking and conducting master classes, choral training sessions, seminars, and workshops for churches and schools.
He has directed choirs for special events and projects with artists such as Michael Bolton, Clifton Davis, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Michael English, Sandi Patti, Barry Manilow, Heather Headley, Paul Anka, Josh Groban and Roberta Flack. He has performed for notable organizations and businesses such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way, K&K Insurance, Time Services, Youth For Christ and countless others.
Some of his honors include the 2003 Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne’s Margaret Ann Keegan Award for Program Development and Excellence. In 2005 he received an honorary doctorate in ministry from Fort Wayne Theological Seminary and Bible College of Fort Wayne and is an Indiana / Purdue University of Fort Wayne Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs 2008 Great Men, Great Women Honoree for his outstanding commitment to diversity.
