For the first time since it started 26 years ago, the “Beat Hunger” concert at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is being directed by someone new.
The concert was created by Monte Coulter, director of percussion studies at UTC. Coulter retired in 2021 after 41 years, and the director is now Ethan McDaniel, who is in his first year as adjunct instructor and director of the Percussion Ensemble in the Department of Music.
Performed by the Percussion Ensemble, “Beat Hunger” is a concert to raise money for Chattanooga’s Community Kitchen, which helps feed and clothe the homeless as well as offering shelter and counseling.
Admission to the concert is two non-perishable food items or a $2 check donation to the Kitchen.
For the six-member Percussion Ensemble’s performance at the concert, McDaniel said he has assembled a variety of musical pieces.
“I like to program concerts as diversely as possible, making sure we have pieces representing historical pieces and percussion pieces that feature students,” said McDaniel, who was a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before joining UTC.
“I also pick pieces that are nice and easy to listen to, then some more contemporary, newer pieces.”
McDaniel, who is assistant director of the Marching Mocs band, also wanted to make sure that composers of the music “are well-represented with female composers, people of color, things like that, to make sure that we’re encapsulating and representing everybody that we need to represent, as well as representing the music community.”
“Beat Hunger” Concert
When: 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21
Where: Roland Hayes Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center
Admission: Two non-perishable food items or $2 check donation to the Community Kitchen
Admission to the concert is two non-perishable food items or a $2 check donation to the Kitchen.
