Nashville, Tennessee (February 4, 1851 -June 9, 1915) age 64 yrs

Ella Sheppard was born enslaved. She was a soprano, pianist, composer, and arranger of spirituals. She was also the Matriarch of the original Fisk Jubilee Singers of Nashville, Tennessee. Sheppard was a confidante of Frederick Douglas, and one of the most distinguished African American women of her generation. A German woman taught her to play piano. She managed to persuade an eminent white vocal teacher to give her lessons. In 1868 Sheppard managed to save about six dollars and enrolled in Fisk Free Colored School in Nashville. She became music teacher at Fisk University, the only Black staff member at the school. Her skill as a pianist drew attention of Fisk treasurer and musician George White. He appointed her as his choir’s accompanist and made her assistant choral director of his troupe. She accompanied the choir on piano. She oversaw many of their rehearsals. She conducted the Jubilees. She collected and transcribed spirituals. Eventually, the troupe’s repertoire numbered over a hundred. Ella Sheppard became an intellect, in spirit, and in musical attainment one of the truly gifted women of the world.