William Grant Still (1895-1978) is one of America’s foremost classical music composers. His work includes the Afro-American Symphony, the art-song cycle Songs of Separation, operas such as Troubled Island and A Bayou Legend and scores for films and television shows, including Gunsmoke and Perry Mason. An L.A. resident from 1934 to 1978, Still’s artistic vision and life experiences during the era of segregation raise challenging questions about the classical-music canon, race, and California and American history.

USC Thornton School of Music students will perform a selection of his vocal music on Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Alfred Newman Hall on the USC campus; the composer's daughter, Judith Anne Still, will give a presentation about his life on Feb. 6 at 1:00 p.m. in Doheny Memorial Library on the USC campus.