Dr. Frances W. Hughes, in the late 1950’s, then a teacher of choral and organ music, observed, “the music classroom provides ‘music for the millions;’ but what is there for the talented few?”

In 1962, with the endorsement of the Music Educators National Conference and related offices in the D.C. Public Schools, Dr. Hughes defined goals and developed structure for an organization known as “Young Scholars with Special Gifts.” This organization would be a showcase for the talent of gifted young people in the several performing arts. At the same time, Dr. Hughes organized the choral music segment, the D.C. Youth Chorale, and was its first musical director.