The Voices of Unity Youth Choir (VOUYC) is a vibrant choral ensemble from Fort Wayne, Indiana, bringing together youth aged 7 to 19 from diverse backgrounds. Founded on July 9, 2000, by Marshall White, VOUYC offers a unique development program that extends beyond traditional choir experiences. Specializing in soulful music genres such as blues, jazz, gospel, and R&B, the choir also focuses on character development and leadership skills.Core Principles:Personal GrowthLong-term ImpactHolistic DevelopmentCharacter BuildingLife PreparationTalent NurturingCommitmentArtistic ExposureReal-World ExperienceSupportive CommunityGuidanceResource InvestmentMajor Accomplishments:VOUYC has performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Minskoff Theatre, and Cincinnati Music Hall. Internationally, the choir has sung in European cathedrals, including a notable performance at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Competing in the World Choir Games (Choir Olympics) in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2024, they represented the U.S. in countries such as China, Latvia, and New Zealand. The choir has twice been named World Grand Champions in the Gospel category and has earned six gold medals and one silver in the Pop category.VOUYC has also appeared at high-profile events like the NFL Kick-Off on national television with Kesha Cole and has collaborated with renowned artists, including Kirk Franklin, Roberta Flack, Josh Groban, Stephen Stills, John Mellencamp, Heather Headley, and Kelly Clarkson.Their performances are enriched by the leadership of accomplished music directors such as Dr. Tyron Cooper (Indiana University), Lance Tolbert (Mariah Carey), Myron McKinley (Earth, Wind & Fire), Chris Byrd (formerly with the late Rance Allen), and Tyrone Tolbert (Indianapolis, IN). Through the Unity Performing Arts Foundation, over 500 students have attended 95 colleges nationwide, with many alumni succeeding in fields ranging from Broadway to healthcare.

After seven years of careful planning, Mr. White founded the Unity Performing Arts Foundation (UNITY) in June 2000, establishing a multifaceted platform focused on arts and youth development. UNITY addresses two critical needs for children and youth in the 21st century: youth empowerment and relevant artistic training within a non-traditional artistic framework called "The Soulful Art Forms." This innovative concept aimed to fill a gap in the Fort Wayne, IN arts community, where minority participation in the arts was limited, both in the community and schools.UNITY's foundation was built on a five-phase vision designed to guide the organization’s execution for years to come. The uniqueness of UNITY lies in its mission to provide young people with a platform to excel and succeed in all areas of their lives—at home, in school, at church, and within their communities. The organization focuses on fostering professionalism, discipline, leadership, and character development before college, offering a support system that encourages success throughout students' grade school years.Mr. White envisioned UNITY as a multifaceted artistic platform where mainstream soulful arts, including music, dance, acting, writing, speaking, and singing, could be taught in a structured educational environment. This allows students aspiring to careers in the entertainment industry to receive the training, coaching, exposure, and pre-college preparation necessary to pursue their post-high school dreams.UNITY’s model effectively addresses the lack of fundamental training that many young people today are not receiving at home. The concept extends far beyond the arts, evolving into a powerful family-like support system for the students involved. To learn more about the Unity Performing Arts Foundation, visit upaf.com.

Finetouch provides data management systems for non-profits, churches, and schools; conducts artistic workshops, music ministry restructuring projects, and artistic training classes for choirs or groups. Mr. White is available for keynote speaking opportunities for youth organizations, non-profits, music ministries, and schools. He provides personal coaching to young leaders, entrepreneurs, and consultation for pastors, worship pastors, directors, and musicians.

In 1993, Sharon Banks, the principal of Northrop High School, and Barry Ashton, the Band Director, approached Mr. White with an idea to create a choir program aimed at attracting students of color to Northrop's music department. Embracing this vision, Mr. White developed a comprehensive curriculum to introduce soulful choral music to the school. The choir, named the Northrop Contemporary Chorale, offered students the chance to learn, study, and perform non-traditional soulful choral music, while also receiving instruction in vocal and music theory, performance training, discipline, vocal technique, and stage etiquette.In addition to the musical focus, the program integrated character-building and empowerment elements, helping students achieve greater success at school, home, and in their communities. The choral class was a one-credit course, and it quickly became one of the most popular programs at the school and in the community. The program was discontinued in 2000 when Mr. White resigned to establish the Unity Performing Arts Foundation, where many of the students were given the opportunity to continue their journey in choral music.

In 1993, Mr. White was appointed as the Music Director in Residence at Purdue University's Black Cultural Center. Under his leadership, the Black Voices of Inspiration evolved from an extracurricular artistic activity into a professional university performance group. By 1996, the choir had gained recognition as a polished performance ensemble, earning invitations to perform at the President's Council events. They were later named ambassadors for Purdue University, representing the institution on travels as official representatives.In 1999, the choir was invited to participate in the first-ever joint tour with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club and the Purdue University Singers. This historic collaboration, titled "The Voices of America Tour," took the groups to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, serving as a profound expression of diversity and unity. The tour not only showcased their musical talents but also fostered deep bonds and lasting friendships among the students.By 1999, the Black Voices of Inspiration had become one of the most popular choral programs on campus, regularly performing at major events for the President's Council. In the early summer of 2000, Mr. White resigned from his position as Music Director in Residence, concluding a remarkable seven-year tenure at Purdue University to embark on a new journey—launching the Unity Performing Arts Foundation.

From 1974-1996, Mr. White served as the Music Director at True Love Baptist Church for 22 years under the leadership of his father, Pastor Jesse White. During his tenure, he was dedicated to cultivating a standard of excellence within the church choir, motivating singers of all ages to reach their full potential. He oversaw the entire Music Department, which included five choirs and implemented a training program for new directors and musicians.Under his leadership, the True Love United Voices made history in 1984 by performing in the first gospel concert, titled "Gospel Night at the Pops," at the Embassy Theater with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. This event marked the first time a church gospel choir in Indiana collaborated with a philharmonic orchestra. Mr. White played a pivotal role in fostering an artistic relationship between the Philharmonic and the gospel music community in Fort Wayne, IN.Throughout his career, his church choir had the opportunity to perform with renowned artists such as Michael Bolton, Clifton Davis, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Michael English, Sandi Patti, Barry Manilow, Foreigner, Heather Headley, and Paul Anka.