When Cecil G. Smith lifts his baton to herald the start of another Christmas concert this Sunday, St. Paul A.M.E. Church will once again be filled with the finest sounds of the festive season.

Since assuming the mantle of master of the church's senior choir in 1985, Mr.

Smith, M.Mus., M.B.E., has steadily built a reputation for drawing the best from the 42 voices he assiduously trains throughout the year, so it comes as no surprise that, based on their reputation for excellence, the Christmas concerts are always a sell-out.

As always, Sunday's audience can expect a thoughtfully chosen programme which will embrace the spiritual significance of the season.

In addition, in keeping with the Church's desire to encourage developing talent, 17-year-old violinist Michael Johnson, a student at Warwick Academy, will have a solo role, as will Bermuda's most outstanding soprano, the professionally-trained Mrs. Marcelle Clamens.

While further details must remain under wraps until Sunday night (Christmas is, after all, about surprises) the twinkle in Mr. Smith's eye confirms that the occasion will be both moving and joyous.

But what of the man behind the baton -- the man whose direction is meticulous? Cecil Smith's interest in music stretches back to his early childhood, when he first studied the piano before moving on to organ studies with the late Mr.

Joseph Richards.

Such was the young Bermudian's interest in music that he elected to make it the basis of his career. First, he attended Wilberforce University in the US, where he successfully gained a Bachelor's degree in music education, following which he proceeded to Michigan State University, ultimately graduating with a Master's degree in the same subject.

"The organ was my major instrument,'' Mr. Smith notes of his university studies.

On returning home, Mr. Smith taught music at then-Sandys Secondary School, where he established both a junior and senior choir.

"In those days, there was no instrumental music instruction,'' he explains of the choirs' formation -- a situation he would begin remedying in 1971 when he returned once more to Michigan State to enroll in its music instrumental programme.

"When I returned to Sandys I started a school band, so I was taking both that and the choirs,'' the former teacher explains. "At first, the kids were serious, they were singing four-part harmony, but now they are doing a lot of unison work. Radio and TV have changed their taste. In those days they were really interested in the classical stuff -- choral music, and so forth.'' Ultimately, Mr. Smith spent 34 years teaching Bermuda's youngsters to sing and play instruments before he retired in 1995, and he is proud to note that some of his former students play in the Bermuda Regiment, while others who live abroad continue to perform as instrumentalists and vocalists.

His appointment as choirmaster of the senior choir at St. Paul's AME church in 1985 marked the pinnacle of a long association with the church, during which he had served as assistant choir master and organist. Today, he is still the resident organist -- a position he admits leads him to spend "more time in church''.

Addressing the future fortunes of church choirs, Mr. Smith admits that, except in college towns where churches have a ready supply of music students on which to draw, it is becoming increasingly difficult to interest the young in choral music. But that doesn't mean at St. Paul AME he stops trying.

"Our aim is to encourage and give young people exposure to the anthems in the hope that they will continue the tradition of choral music. They should be able to like a little bit of everything,'' he asserts.

"I may not like pop music, but I can appreciate it. In terms of music, we need to know what the young are doing, and they need to know what we are doing.'' Christmas choir the highlight of a year's work Indeed, Mr. Smith likens a well rounded musical education to a well balanced diet.

"You don't just eat a little bit of carrot and a little bit of spinach, you eat a variety of foods, and so it is with music. You need to try all kinds of music. That is what I try to get youngsters to understand when I am teaching -- to be able to mix it.'' That he is right is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that former pupils still tell Mr. Smith how glad they are that he made them listen to classical composers because now when they attend concerts they understand the music.

Despite all his degrees and years of experience, the man behind the baton still believes in doing his homework. He regularly attends the American Choral Directors Association conference and Music Educators National Conference.

It is at such events that Mr. Smith is able to browse through the wealth of choral and instrumental music scores available for sale and select the material he wants for forthcoming concerts.

"They have pianos in small rooms and you can sit down and play the music through before you buy it,'' he notes. "People don't believe that you spend a lot of your personal time searching for material. Well, you certainly can't pick up a catalogue and make your choices because you don't know what the music looks like.'' Material for the Christmas concert is chosen in August, and always includes "a little challenge''. Twice-weekly rehearsals begin the third week of September, and for the first two months male and female voices are rehearsed separately so that when they amalgamate in November it is a matter of "fine-tuning'' everything in time for the December performance.

In addition to regular services, the senior choir performs special music at Easter. For the past two years it has also sung at the annual Thanksgiving service which take place at one of Bermuda's two cathedrals.

Of its well-deserved reputation, Mr. Smith says: "I inherited a good choir and I just try to continue and improve on it.'' CONCERT FACTS St. Paul AME's Christmas concert begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, December 19. Tickets ($20 regular, $15 for seniors) are available from the church office between 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. as well as choir members.