Deanne Irvine, seated, president of the Chattanooga Music Teachers Association, will accompany singers Rosella Ewing, left, and Richard Cox during local observances of the International Day of Collaborative Music on Saturday, Jan. 22.

What organizers believe is the biggest, one-day presentation of free music performances held in this city will be launched Saturday.

Chattanooga Music Teachers Association is sponsoring its first Day of Collaborative Music as part of an international day of music on Jan. 22 sponsored by Music Teachers National Association.

More than 125 area musicians will participate in 33 performances scheduled at Hunter Museum of American Art, Northgate Mall and Hamilton Place.

Sigrid Luther, event coordinator, said the goal is to broaden awareness of the many types of talent in the area as well as to encourage group music-making.

"While the national emphasis is on small, unaccompanied groups, we have expanded to include a children's choir, handbell choir, soloists, duets, quintets and quartets," Luther said.

"Many of our CMTA members are private instructors, so we have tried to promote these pianists playing with other musicians," she added.

Performances at the three venues will feature youth orchestra musicians, high school teens, UTC students, students from private instruction studios as well as longtime professional musicians.

Jay Craven, supervisor of music for the former Chattanooga City School system and a music educator for more than 50 years, said the closest public-performance project like this he can remember was Music in Our Schools, founded in 1975.

"We had kids singing and bands playing in public places, but that was spread over a week or two. This is a rarity," he said of the single-day blitz.

Summitt Piano and Crutcher Piano have donated the use of baby grand pianos to accommodate performers, who are all donating their time. The three venues have donated their spaces to the effort as well, said Deanne Irvine, CMTA president.

Irvine said CMTA hopes by bringing music to the malls it will develop greater local support for live music.

"People will enjoy music when it is out where they are, but getting them to buy a ticket is a coup. This Day of Music is strictly presented for love of the art and, hopefully, if people hear a group they like, they'll want to hear more," she said.

Day of Collaborative Music Schedule

Hunter Museum of American Art

11 a.m. Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra String Quartet

11:30 a.m. Jonathan Lau, cellist; Christine Lau, violinist; Allen Liu, violinist; Hannah Kuhn pianist.

Noon. Beth Duroy, soprano, accompanied by pianist Jason Duroy

1 p.m. Vocalists Rosella Ewing and Richard Cox, accompanied by pianist Deanne Irvine

2 p.m. Janet Hale, flute, accompanied by Deanne Irvine

2:40 p.m. Janelle Wigal, French horn, accompanied by John Wigal

Hamilton Place mall, Comcast Stage

10:15 a.m. Megan Ayres and Virginia Marion, viola and piano

10:30 a.m. Pauline Martin and Jim Martin, clarinet and piano

10:50 a.m. Jim Martin and Martha King, bells and piano

11:10 a.m. Jay Craven and Virginia Marion, clarinet and piano

11:30 a.m. Margaret Ann Randolph and Helen Stout, pianists

Noon. Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra Ensembles

1 p.m. UTC Brass Quintet

1:40 p.m. UTC Clarinet Ensemble

2 p.m. UTC Woodwind Ensemble

2:20 p.m. UTC students Daniel Lee, violin; Andrew Maden and Nick Wysong, trumpet; Sarah Tullock, soprano; Eshtan Anderson, Liliya Garasimchuk, Stephanie Roberts, Priska Sentana and Patrick Wood, pianists

3 p.m. Students of Tammy Benson and Viktoria Lindsay

Northgate Mall, in front of Sears

10:15 a.m. Emily Oing and Sigrid Luther, violin and piano

10:30 a.m. Students of Elizabeth Pierce

10:35 a.m. Students of Megan Johnson

10:45 a.m. Students of Jim Greasby

10:55 a.m. Students of Megan Johnson

11 a.m. Red Bank Baptist Church Handbell Choir

11:20 a.m. Red Bank Baptist Church Gloryland Singers

11:40 a.m. Red Bank Baptist Church Brass Ensemble

Noon. Students of Megan Johnson

12:30 p.m. Students of Beverly Nunley

1 p.m. Bryan College Women's Chorus

1:30 p.m. Bryan College Flute Ensemble

2 p.m. Bryan College Chamber Singers

2:30 p.m. Vocal duos by Darrin and Christine Hassevoort, accompanied by pianist Alan Nichols

3 p.m. Thrasher Elementary School Cool Cats Chorus

3:30 p.m. Mel R. Wilhoit, trumpet

Source: Chattanooga Music Teachers Association