Jubilation!
Ambassadors on a sacred journey
May 10 – Dec 3, 2025
ADMISSION
General Exhibition Entry: $10
NMAAM Members: Free
Groups of 15 or more receive special rates and can request a guided experience with one of our knowledgeable docents.
A Traveling Exhibit Celebrating the Fisk Jubilee Singers® —a vocal ensemble that helped introduce African American spirituals to the world.
In this space, you’ll explore their beginnings at Fisk University, their groundbreaking international tours, and the powerful role they played in preserving a deeply rooted musical tradition. More than a history lesson, this exhibit is a tribute to resilience, artistry, and the way music can carry a people’s story across generations and around the globe.
Listen to recordings of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, explore their repertoire, and understand the cultural context of their music.
The Jubilation! exhibit offers a carefully designed linear experience through four thematic chapters:
- Africa to America – Origins of spirituals in African musical traditions and their creation during slavery
- Learning & Freedom – Noble aspirations and challenges faced by Fisk faculty, staff, and students
- Rekindling the Spirituals – How later Fisk troupes transformed the spirituals for global audiences
- Forward in Faith – The continuing legacy and impact of the Fisk Jubilee Singers
Capture Your Experience
Complete your journey with a photo at our Jubilation! step-and-repeat backdrop
These chapters are bookended by a Prelude and Coda that connect the historical journey to contemporary significance Africa to America – Origins of spirituals in African musical traditions and their creation during slavery
“The Fisk Jubilee Singers introduced the gospel spirituals to the world.”
DEEPER DIVE
Ambassadors on a sacred journey
Embark on a transformative journey through the remarkable legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. This groundbreaking 2,500 square-foot exhibition brings to life the story of young African American singers who broke through racial barriers in the late 1800s while preserving and celebrating the unique American tradition known as spirituals.
Timeline
1880 – Present
The exhibit will chronicle the journey of the Fisk Jubilee Singers from their inception in the late 19th century to their modern-day performances, highlighting key milestones and achievements throughout their history.
Learn
The History
The Jubilee exhibit aims to educate visitors on the significance of the Fisk Jubilee Singers in American music history.
Through interactive displays and historical artifacts, the exhibit will provide insights into how the ensemble’s dedication to preserving spirituals played a crucial role in shaping the musical landscape.
Listen
Jubilation! Playlist
This playlist honors the legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose voices carried spirituals from the hearts of formerly enslaved people to the world’s great concert halls.
The songs speak to faith, endurance, and the hope of freedom, and reflect the cultural and spiritual foundation of African American music.
Heartbeat Saturdays
Throughout the exhibition run, join us every Saturday for “Heartbeat Saturdays” featuring special programming, performances, and educational activities that expand on themes from the exhibition.
Volunteer Opportunities
Join our team of dedicated volunteers who help create an exceptional visitor experience. Volunteers are essential to the success of Jubilation!, assisting with:
- Visitor flow management
- Exhibition interpretation
- Survey collection
- General visitor assistance
SPONSORS
This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of:
- Lilly Endowment, Inc.
- Fisk University
- Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation
- Tennessee Arts Commission
- Metro Arts Commission
- Mars Petcare
- AllianceBernstein
- Regions Bank
- Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- AARP Tennessee
- Noelle Hotel
