Chattanooga Music Club Presents Its Annual Free Holiday Spectacular Nov. 19

The Chattanooga Music Club will present its annual free Holiday Spectacular at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.

Review for Holiday Spectacular: 

It will be of epic proportions and truly spectacular considering in addition to Dr. Patrick Scott performing on the Mighty Austin Organ, the UTC Chattanooga Singers, UTC Chamber Singers, and 60 piece UTC Symphony Orchestra will join the organist on stage. 

WTVC-TV9 & FOX's own Greg Funderburg will act as the emcee.

This year's event will be honoring the memory of Dr. Glenn Draper, a musical force in the Chattanooga community and one who is missed dearly. Dr. Draper’s love of choral music thrust him into a career that included forming the Keesler Air Force Base Male Chorus, becoming director of  Music at Pheiffer College, the University of Miami, Coral Gables United Methodist Church, UT Chattanooga, the Lake Junaluska Singers, and the Glenn Draper Singers.

In 1968 he teamed up with the late Ben Haden at  First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, and soon his music was  broadcast all over the world. His accolades are too numerous to mention, but he brought unparalleled passion and energy to everything he endeavored to do.  Dr. Draper founded The Chattanooga Singers.

Countless singers and students credit him for changing the course of their lives.  Just like his lovely wife, Lounelle, they too held on for dear life, as he took them all over the world.  He loved each of them dearly. 

Now, Dr. Draper’s legacy of blessing others through music continues through donations to the Chattanooga Music Club’s Evelyn Gibbs Performance Fund. This fund he supported allows the CMC to continue these types of free programs. All monies received go solely towards production cost of these events. 

Donations will be accepted at the door on the night of the event. To donate online visit the CMC's webpage and use the drop down menu to select In Memory of Dr Glenn Draper so the donation will be directed to the proper fund. 

Dr. Patrick Scott will join the Chattanooga Music Club from Memphis and perform on the Mighty Austin organ. Dr. Scott is the new lead parish musician at Grace-St. Luke’s in Memphis. Director of Music and Organist, Dr. Scott was previously at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, where he has served as organist and associate choirmaster since 2014. At the Cathedral, his duties consisted of playing for worship services, leading the children’s chorister program, assisting with directing the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Schola, and planning the concert series. 

Prior to the Cathedral, Dr. Scott served as music associate and organist at Myers Park United Methodist Church (Charlotte, N.C.), organist at University Christian Church (Austin, Tx.), and organist at First United Methodist Church (Tuscaloosa, Al.).

A native of Picayune, Ms., Dr. Scott graduated with the degrees of Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance and Master of Music in Organ Performance and Sacred Music from the University of Texas at Austin, and Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from Birmingham-Southern College, and studied with organists, James Cook, Gerre Hancock, and Judith Hancock; extended education includes choral and organ studies in England and France. Master organ classes, recitals, hymn festivals, as well as performance awards and prizes in the art of organ improvisation, have been a considerable part of his formation and refinement as an exceptional organist, conductor, educator, and well-rounded church musician.

The Chattanooga Singers is a concert choir of mixed voices that performs a wide variety of music from A cappella works to major works with full orchestra.  Founded by Dr. Draper following the merger of the University of Chattanooga and Chattanooga City College which created the new University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, they have a long tradition of performing in the Chattanooga area, throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Kevin Ford is the current director and the membership is open to students of all majors through competitive audition.

The UTC Chamber Singers, also under the direction of Dr. Ford, is a small chorus of mixed voices that performs a wide variety of music. It is the main touring choir in the Music Department at UTC. Previous concerts have included formal chamber music, folk songs, spirituals and vocal jazz.

The 60-member UTC Symphony Orchestra includes UTC music majors and non-majors, UTC music faculty members, area music educators, and other talented amateur and professional musicians from the region.  The orchestra presents three concerts per year, performing works from the standard orchestral repertoire as well as works by living composers.  The Student Concerto Concert is presented each February, and the orchestra has provided concerto accompaniment for local professional musicians as well.  The orchestra is conducted by Sandy Morris. 

Greg Funderburg is a morning show co-anchor of "Good Morning Chattanooga" and reporter at WTVC News Channel 9. He joined the station in July 2013. Before joining the WTVC-TV news team Mr. Funderburg was a reporter/fill-in anchor with Fox Carolina in Greenville, S.C. and a general assignment reporter at WTVM in Columbus, Ga. He began his career in journalism at the age of 17 at Abrams Broadcasting Company, a cable access station in his hometown Sylacauga, Al.The experience at Abrams Broadcasting motivated Mr. Funderburg to further his education and interest in broadcast journalism. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Montevallo in 2006. He majored in Mass Communications and minored in General Business.

Mr. Funderburg is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Aside from his civic work, he enjoys speaking to youth about the importance of education, hard work, determination, and dedication.In his free time, he enjoys scary movies, working out, spending time with family and traveling.

The concert will be open seating and no tickets are required. For more information contact Buddy Shirk at 529-0315 or via email buddy@summittpianos.com or visit www.chattanoogamusicclub.org.