Five years after Fisk University opened its doors in 1866 the University was in dire financial straits and the possibility that the institution would have to be closed hung in the air. This would have been very sad indeed because Fisk was the only university at the time that offered a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.”

Mr. George L. White, treasurer of Fisk then and a professor of music, was inspired with the idea of creating a choral ensemble and taking the group on a concert tour to earn funds for the University. In the fall of 1871 without the permission of the Board of Trustees and despite significant discouragement from colleagues Mr. White borrowed money and did take his choral ensemble of five women and four men on a musical adventure.