ST. LOUIS • The sound was good. Really good. But choir director Jerry Smith wanted to try something different.

He moved the altos away from the sopranos to the opposite side of the risers, sandwiching the tenors and basses.

Smith seemed to like the change. So did the choir members.

"Let's record it this time," Smith said.

The balance and blend of sound needed to be as close to perfect as possible for the choir of Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis. Winning a contest that would designate the group as the best gospel choir in the country is on the line. And with it comes additional pressure: being the first choir at the national level representing a predominately gay and lesbian congregation.

The choir is a mix of men and women, black and white, young and not-so-young, gay and straight. They won regionals last month in St. Louis and will perform for the national title Friday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The regional victory at Scottrade Center was unexpected for MCC.

"I never thought we'd win," said the Rev. Carol Trissell. "It's not about our technical ability. Based on who we are, I never thought they'd put us through."

The church has become a sanctuary for those who have not felt welcome among other congregations. Its beliefs run counter to many faiths that view homosexuality as a sin. For example, it offers a class called Recovering from Homophobic Religions.

Trissell says music has a way of bringing people together.

"Sometimes, in Christianity, we get caught up in different theologies," Trissell said.

"This competition highlights what we have in common rather than our differences. We're all there to praise God together."

"How Sweet the Sound" — a national competition, now in its fourth year — is sponsored by Verizon. Winners from nine regions were selected to compete in the finals.

Organizers of the competition said sexual orientation and its place in a church's teachings has no bearing on who is allowed to participate.

"We don't look at any of that," said contest spokeswoman Cameka Crawford. The idea, she said, is simply to find the country's best gospel choir.

BREAKING THE MOLD

Gospel singer Marvin Sapp, one of the judges, said in his critique of MCC's regional performance: "This is what heaven is supposed to look like. It's supposed to look like a multiplicity of cultures, colors, creeds, all coming together for the sole purpose of magnifying and glorifying" the word of God.

The remark caught choir members off guard but gave them the assurance they needed, that being nontraditional is a nonissue in the competition.

"We were totally gobsmacked," said choir member Kenton Brandon-Fritzius of the victory.

Performing on a national stage can help change perceptions and show that many gays not only believe in God but praise his name with song, he said.

Two years ago, the choir from Faith Baptist Church in Festus won regionals and was the only all-white group on the national stage of a competition featuring traditionally African-American music. MCC wants to continue breaking the mold.

MCC first entered the contest three years ago. Members dressed in black and white but did not look very uniform compared with the other competitors, who wore choir robes.

So Smith, an elementary music teacher in the Francis Howell School District, called in a favor. The choir showed up the second year wearing robes borrowed from Francis Howell Central High School. The judges didn't seem to notice the FHC on the sleeves.

The choir members were ready with an answer, just in case. Depending on whom you asked, the letters stood for Faith, Hope and Charity, or Faith, Hope and Commitment. Smith was going with First Hallelujah Chorus.

The choir got high marks for appearance but didn't make it out of regionals. This year, the robes were back. The choir added some choreography. Judges had noted previously that they liked movement.

The choir's song choice, "Psalm 68 (Let Our God Arise)," is made for movement. The song, almost an anthem, has a Latin flavor and allows the choir to show off its three soloists as well as the vocal blend of its 48 members. Smith said he thinks the choir relied too much on a soloist the first year; the second year it entered without one. The balance seems to have paid off this year, he said.

The choir won $10,000 at regionals. The winner at nationals will receive $25,000.

GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE

Smith says putting together an award-winning choir from a congregation of just more than 400 members can have its challenges. But when everyone standing in front of him is singing from the heart, it's worth the effort, he said.

"No one is denied an opportunity to perform," Smith said. "Instead, the choir is told, 'Wherever you are, you have to bring me more than ever before.' Some can sing everything you put in front of them. Some say, 'What page are we on?' My job is to try to get them all on the same page."

To do that, Smith works with some members outside of choir practice. And he's had to pull some aside to let them know they are singing too loudly.

Before any singing begins at rehearsals, Smith leads members through some stretches. He has each singer turn and rub the shoulders of the person to the left. He wants everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed before rehearsing.

Members say they are ready to give their all Friday night. They had a final rehearsal in St. Louis on Wednesday night before flying to Los Angeles today.

"We've prepared the best we can. If everyone stays well, we'll be right in there with everyone else," Smith said.

Brandon-Fritzius said he hopes the judges hear the passion within, the unleashed voices of those who left churches where they were not welcome. He was raised Pentecostal but left his church after coming out; he has been at MCC for five years.

Trissell will be in the audience cheering — and praying — for her church choir to bring home the top prize.

"I see it as an opportunity to put a different face on gospel music."