Chattanooga will celebrate a homegrown musical figure with a free concert honoring the life and work of Dr. Roland Carter.

The tribute is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 401 Gateway Avenue.

Performers will include choirs from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and special guests from the Morehouse Glee Club.

Carter, a Chattanooga native and Howard High School graduate, built a distinguished career as an educator, arranger, conductor, and advocate for choral music.

He studied at Hampton University and New York University before teaching for many years at Hampton.

He later joined UTC, where he led choral programs until his retirement in 2013.

His work helped bring wider attention to music by African American composers, particularly concert arrangements of spirituals.

Among his best-known contributions is an influential arrangement of Lift Every Voice and Sing.

Carter also published choral works through his own company, helping educators and ensembles discover and perform music that might otherwise receive less exposure.

The November concert offers an opportunity to hear that legacy through the voices of current performers.

It is also a reminder of Chattanooga’s deep connection to American music history beyond its best-known stages and venues.

Admission is free, and local music lovers may wish to arrive early for seating.

The evening brings together education, performance, and recognition of a lasting cultural contribution.