Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 21, 1931 in Chicago, IL

Death

:

July 12, 2016 in Bronxville, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

 

Gregg Smith was an American conductor, composer, and choral music educator who was born on August 4, 1931, in Clinton, New York. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Smith's father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer. He began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and voice with his parents. Smith attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where he studied music theory and composition. He later earned a master's degree in music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. While at Eastman, he studied conducting with Howard Hanson and composition with Bernard Rogers. After completing his studies, Smith began his career as a choral conductor and composer. He founded the Gregg Smith Singers in 1955, a professional choir that specialized in contemporary music. The group quickly gained a reputation for their innovative programming and virtuosic performances. In 1958, Smith was appointed the director of choral activities at the University of Rochester. He held this position for five years before moving to New York City to pursue a career as a freelance conductor and composer. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Smith established himself as one of the leading choral conductors in the United States. He conducted numerous premieres of works by contemporary composers, including Elliott Carter, John Cage, and Morton Feldman. He also recorded extensively with the Gregg Smith Singers, releasing over 50 albums on various labels. In addition to his work with the Gregg Smith Singers, Smith was also a prolific composer. He wrote over 200 works, including choral music, chamber music, and orchestral works. His music was often characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as its incorporation of non-Western musical traditions. Smith's contributions to the field of choral music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He received the ASCAP Victor Herbert Award in 1965 and the Ditson Conductor's Award in 1976. He was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1998. One of the highlights of Smith's career was his involvement in the civil rights movement. In 1963, he led the Gregg Smith Singers in a performance of African-American spirituals at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The performance was a powerful symbol of the role that music played in the struggle for civil rights. Smith continued to be active as a conductor and composer throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He founded the Gregg Smith Singers Foundation in 1993, which was dedicated to promoting choral music education and performance. He also served as a guest conductor and lecturer at numerous universities and music festivals. Gregg Smith passed away on July 12, 2016, at the age of 84. His legacy as a conductor, composer, and educator continues to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers.

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