If You Go
• What: Beat Hunger percussion concerts.• When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Nov. 18-19.• Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.• Admission: $2 check made payable to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen or two nonperishable food items for donation to the nonprofit.• Website: http://utc.edu/music.
One of the most popular concerts presented by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Music Department is coming up Sunday and Monday, Nov. 18-19.
The UTC Percussion Ensemble will sponsor its annual food drive and benefit concert, "Beat Hunger," at 7:30 p.m. each night in the UTC Fine Arts Center.
Admission is either a $2 check made payable to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen or two nonperishable food items for donation to the nonprofit.
UTC Percussion Ensemble is composed of students of Dr. Monte Coulter. They entertain audiences with a variety of musical styles played on standard mallet and drum instruments, as well as unusual instruments such as iron pipes, glassware and "found objects."
"We're doing an arrangement of the 'Nimrod Variation' from the Sir Edward Elgar Enigma Variations for 10 marimba players. It's actually for five, but I'm doubling it. That's just to show off the gorgeous things a marimba can do," Coulter explained.
Coulter said the number "Sharpened Stick" will show the audience "all the different kinds of things you can hit other than mallet instruments." He said Chris Smith of Memphis, a graduating senior, will be featured in a suite for solo drum set and percussion ensemble.
The show will close with a composition written by Coulter based on disco queen Donna Summer's "I Feel Love."
"I saw the Blue Man Group in Boston years ago, and they did this and it's unforgettable," said Coulter. UTC student Stephanie Hammett will sing Summer's vocals on the number.
Those who have attended past concerts know to arrive early, because seats fill fast.
The Funkabuckets bucket band will play in the lobby starting about 7 each night to entertain concertgoers waiting for doors to open.
"They are fantastic players, very talented, and all but one are alumni of the UTC percussion ensemble," Coulter said of these drummers known for their innovative, street-corner bucket music.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.