Currently offering guided tours by appointment only
The Milton House Museum’s Signature Event is our premier annual fundraiser, bringing the community together to celebrate and support our mission. Each year features a unique experience, designed to engage audiences while raising essential funds for the museum’s ongoing operation and preservation.
The 2026 Milton House Museum Signature Event will take place on September 26, 2026, at the Janesville Performing Arts Center in Janesville. This special evening will feature an opening performance by Ko-Thi Dance Company of Milwaukee, followed by a main performance from the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Tennessee. The museum is proud to bring these exceptional performers to the community for an unforgettable night celebrating history, culture, and the arts.
Tickets for the event will go on sale in June 2026.
Introducing the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University opened in Nashville in 1866 as the first American university to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.” The school became a leading institution for Black higher education, emphasizing academic excellence, teacher training, and the advancement of African American culture and leadership.
Today, Fisk University is a small but highly regarded historically Black liberal arts institution in Nashville, known for its strong emphasis on academic excellence, social justice, and close-knit community. The university continues to build on its historic legacy by fostering leadership, research, and community engagement while preparing students to make meaningful contributions in a global society.
Founding of Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1871
Just five years after Fisk University opened, the school faced serious financial challenges. In response, treasurer and music professor George L. White formed a small choral group of nine students and took them on tour to raise funds for the institution.
Their early performances in small towns were met with curiosity, and at times hostility, as audiences were unaccustomed to Black performers who did not conform to minstrel traditions.
By the time they reached Columbus, the group was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. In a moment of encouragement, White gave them the name “Jubilee Singers,” inspired by the Biblical year of Jubilee.
Through perseverance and the power of their voices, the singers gradually won over audiences, transforming skepticism into admiration. Their growing success not only brought critical acclaim but also generated vital funds that helped sustain Fisk University.
Jubilee Hall
In 1872 they sang at the World Peace Festival in Boston and at the end of the year President Ulysses S. Grant invited them to perform at the White House. In 1873 the group grew to eleven members and toured Europe for the first time. Funds raised that year were used to construct the school’s first permanent building, Jubilee Hall.
Today Jubilee Hall, designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Department of Interior in 1975, is one of the oldest structures on campus. The beautiful Victorian Gothic building houses a floor-to-ceiling portrait of the original Jubilee Singers, commissioned by Queen Victoria during the 1873 tour as a gift from England to Fisk.
Fisk Jubilee Singers Today
Today, the Fisk Jubilee Singers continue their legacy as one of the world’s most celebrated choral groups, representing Fisk University on national and international stages.
Known for their powerful performances of spirituals and other sacred music, the ensemble remains dedicated to preserving this important musical tradition while also showcasing a diverse repertoire.
Through tours, recordings, and special appearances, the Jubilee Singers carry forward their historic mission—using music to inspire audiences and support the ongoing work of the university.
Grammy Award Winning Group
In 2021, the Fisk Jubilee Singers earned their first Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for their recording Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album).
This achievement marked a historic milestone for the ensemble, honoring both their musical excellence and their enduring role in preserving and performing the tradition of the Negro spiritual.
The award brought renewed national attention to their legacy and highlighted their continued impact more than 150 years after their founding at Fisk University.
Introducing Ko Thi Dance Company
Founding of Ko Thi Dance Company
Ko-Thi Dance Company is a Milwaukee-based ensemble dedicated to preserving and performing the traditional music and dance of the African diaspora. Founded in 1969 by Ferne Caulker, the company blends cultural education with dynamic performances that celebrate African, Caribbean, and African American heritage.
Ko Thi Dance Company Today
Through school programs, community engagement, and stage performances, Ko-Thi Dance Company continues to share stories of history, resilience, and cultural pride, connecting audiences to the rich traditions that shape the African diaspora.
