MUSIC/DANCE : VOICES OF CHANGE : William Grant Still Chorale Sings the Praises of Traditional and Lesser-Known Composers

You might think that a group named after the dean of black American classical composers would restrict its repertory. But the William Grant Still Chorale has other ideas.

“Our focus is on Afro-American music or on music that doesn’t have a voice on major concerts,” says Paul A. Smith, music director of the Los Angeles-based chorale. “But certainly we do not do that exclusively. We sing Bach and Brahms and other composers of the Western tradition. We expand and grow.”

The chorale will sing a program of works by George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein with the Pacific Symphony led by Carl St.Clair on Saturday at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine and on Sunday at Pearson Park Amphitheatre in Anaheim.

“We look forward to more situations to demonstrate, one, our desire to do Bach and Brahms and Beethoven and, two, our continuation of singing works by Afro-American composers that are not heard,” Smith said.

The chorale is a part of the William Grant Still Performing Arts Society, which is itself a branch of the National Assn. of Negro Musicians, founded in 1919 “to promote black musicians, usually trained in classical music, who normally would not have their works or artistry shared,” Smith said.

“The chorale encompasses not just vocal music, but all areas of music: composition, research, all of that,” Smith said. “But it’s been the choir that has taken off.”

The group was founded in 1986 by Jane Tayler, who died in 1992 of cancer. Smith, who declines to give his age, became affiliated with the group when Tayler invited him to give a workshop on spirituals in 1986. “From that point on, I was there,” he said. He became artistic director a year later.

Born in San Francisco, Smith grew up in Los Angeles, attending Dorsey High School, “which still had quite a music program then,” he said. “I’ve always been involved in music. I studied piano as a youngster with Margaret Bonds, a noted black composer, arranger and pianist. She made her debut with the Chicago Symphony at the age of 9.”

He started singing in the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers while a student. “I did my first tour with them at the age of 16,” he said.

Smith went on to study conducting with William Hall at Chapman University in Orange. “I did my student teaching at Laguna Beach High School and later taught at Santiago High School in Garden Grove.”

Although he still sings--he’s a tenor--Smith finds that “I sing less and conduct more now. I do what is called for. I pride myself on being a versatile musician. I think that’s very important today.”

There are about 40 singers in the chorale, although the size of the group depends on the engagement. “We have teachers; we have an assistant principal of a high school; we have the commissioner of public works; we have fund-raising professionals. The Chorale has quite an array of folks. It’s a very resourceful organization.”

It needs to be, because it operates on an annual shoestring budget of between $20,000 and $30,000. “That’s really cutting it close,” Smith said. “We’re a nonprofit organization. The money that we bring in goes to our general account. We use it to offer scholarships for our youth outreach programs and to support ourselves.”

Smith teaches choral music at Santa Monica High School, which “boasts five choirs and a full-time accompanist.” He still sings with the Jubilee Singers, conducts the William Grant Still group and this week embarked on a new venture--entering the Master’s of Music in Choral Conducting program at USC. He’ll finish that in about a year and a half.

“I’m having a difficult time with this schedule,” he said. “It has been not much of a life. But I’m hoping I’ll remain healthy and do all the things I have to do.”

* What: The William Grant Still Chorale sings with conductor Carl St.Clair and the Pacific Symphony in a program of Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein.

* When: Saturday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.

* Where: Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 8800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine; Pearson Park Amphitheatre, Harbor Boulevard and Cypress Avenue, Anaheim.

* Whereabouts: To Irvine Meadows: Exit San Diego (405) Freeway at Irvine Center Drive and head south. The amphitheater is on the right. To Pearson Park: Exit Riverside (91) Freeway at Harbor Boulevard and head South to Cypress Avenue. It’s on the left.

* Wherewithal: $12 to $48 at Irvine Meadows. $15 at Pearson Park.

* Where to call: For Irvine Meadows show: (714) 740-2000 (Ticketmaster) or (714) 855-6111. For Pearson Park: (714) 755-5799.

MORE MUSIC / DANCE

IN LOS ANGELES: SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY

Herbert Blomstedt will conduct this symphony in works by Grieg, Schumann and Mussorgsky today, Sept. 1, at 8:30 p.m. at Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. Helene Grimaud will be the piano soloist. (213) 480-3232 (Ticketmaster).

IN EAGLE ROCK: BALINESE SHADOW PLAY

Maria Bodmann’s Shadow Art Ensemble will present the “Bird of Anekawana Forest” episode from the great Indian epic “The Mahabharata” at sunset (about 8 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 2, at Thorne Patio, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock (Los Angeles). (213) 665-3050.

IN LOS ANGELES: MODERN DANCE, BALLET

L.A. Modern Dance and Ballet will present the premiere of Naomi Goldberg’s “Three Tales” (based on Japanese and Mexican fables) on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 466-1767.