The WTM Band, The Dismembered Tennesseans and several of the young musicians who recorded songs for a CD called “Let Beauty Awaken” will perform at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre tonight, Nov. 21, as a fundraiser for arts programs in local public schools.
The event is part of a broader program conceived and administered by students at McCallie and Baylor schools. It was created by Thomas West, who came up with the idea after visiting Dalewood Middle School two years ago. While there, he was disheartened to discover the lack of art equipment and resources at the school. When he learned that Dalewood was the norm when it came to arts funding across the county, he set out to make a difference.
West enlisted the help of fellow McCallie senior Ralston Hartness and Baylor seniors McKenna Quatro and Megan Daniel. Since then, the students have been working on the long-term plans for the program and also on the CD, which features 17 area young people performing everything from classical to acoustic music.
West is studying voice at McCallie, and Hartness is a member of the McCallie Guitar Quartet.
The four young performers all auditioned to be included on the CD.