Atlanta percussionists to drum up hunger awareness

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A group of metro Atlanta percussionists will be beating their drums Saturday in a worldwide effort to raise hunger awareness.

Members of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps will be among the drummers participating in the Hunger “Beat” Down, simultaneously performing the same drum solo as other drummers around the world at 3 p.m. Saturday at Ola High School in McDonough.

Saturday’s event, which is being coordinated by the Global Drummers Alliance for Hunger Relief, will feature percussionists playing the Civil War-era drum solo “Three Camps” to raise awareness about world hunger. Organizers expect at least 5,000 drummers worldwide to take part.

The Spirit of Atlanta, made up of drummers, brass players and color guard members ages 15 to 21, is currently rehearsing in preparation for its annual two-month summer tour of performances.

The group’s 150 members will travel more than 10,000 miles in a tour that culminates with the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis on Aug. 11.

The Spirit of Atlanta will also be hosting the DCI Southeastern Regional Championships at the Georgia Dome on July 28.

The idea for the hunger beat-down came from Marv Dahlgren, former principal percussionist with the Minnesota Orchestra.

“I’m concerned that the world is not paying enough attention to the incredible famine that exists in Africa and other countries around the world,” Dahlgren said. “I believe those of us who live in the richest nation on earth owe it to the starving children of the world to help them survive the ravages of famine.”