University of Florida Performing Arts

To listen to an audio clip of the Soweto Gospel Choir, click here.

History of the Soweto Gospel Choir
When it comes to vocal talent, Africa, and more particularly South Africa, has spawned the most evocative sounds on earth and still produces the very best that the world has to offer in this art form. Soweto Gospel Choir is that very best.

Expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, a cappella numbers as well as accompaniment by an exciting four piece band and percussion section. Add to this, energetic dancing and vibrant, colorful costumes, and the mix is awesome. This young dynamic choir performs both traditional and contemporary music, adding its own unique feel and interpretation to both. The choir performs in six of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

This magnificent 52-strong choir, styled with a contemporary feel, leaves all who hear it stunned with emotion. It is no small wonder that they are charting a meteoric rise to international fame. Those who saw the 46664 Concert in Cape Town 2003, under the auspices of former President Nelson Mandela, will have witnessed Soweto Gospel Choir in action alongside other musical greats like Bono, Queen, Anastacia, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Cliff and the Eurythmics.

Formed in November of 2002, by promoters/presenters Andrew Kay, David Vigo and Clifford Hocking, in association with Executive Producer/Director Beverly Bryer and Musical Director David Mulovhedzi, Soweto Gospel Choir’s existence has become an overnight, multi award-winning sensation. In 2003 they won a Helpmann Award, Australia’s prestigious Performing Arts Award for “Best Contemporary Music Concert.” In May 2004 they won the 2003 American Gospel Music Award for “Best Choir”; in October they won the 2004 Gospel Music Award (also U.S.-based) for “Best International Choir,” and locally, their debut CD Voices from Heaven was nominated for a SAMA Award for “Best Traditional Gospel.”  This CD has also garnered rave reviews, having reached the number one spot on Billboard’s World Music Chart, within three weeks of its U.S. release, debuting at number three. Their new CD, Blessed, was released in July 2004, through Universal Music.

Wherever Soweto Gospel Choir has performed, be it Europe, Singapore, Australia, the UK or the United States, it has wowed audiences. At the Edinburgh Festival it was the top selling show, with a fully booked season and five star reviews. It was listed as the critics’ choice in all major publications. In September 2004 the Soweto Gospel Choir performed three concerts at the Royal Festival Hall in London, followed by a countrywide UK tour.  In November/December of that year, the choir completed a sell-out tour of Spain, followed by performances in Berlin, Stuttgart and Hamburg.  The choir completed a two-month, 39-city tour of the United States in April 2005, with the majority of concerts sold-out. Soweto Gospel Choir returned to the United States in 2006, 2007 and is already booked for 2008!

In June 2005 the choir performed in Athens and Spain, followed by a sell-out performance at St Paul’s Cathedral, as part of the prestigious London Festival. In July they performed their Voices from Heaven show for the first time in South Africa, at the Nelson Mandela Theatre in Johannesburg, before returning to New Zealand and Australia in August where they toured their new show Blessed extensively around both countries, to exceptional reviews and audience reaction.

The next highlight of their short but amazing career was a guest appearance with Diana Ross, Deborah Cox and Danny K for the Unite of the Stars Gala Banquet in November last year, in aid of the charities Unite Against Hunger and the Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund. Soon afterwards they departed for performances in the Caribbean and Germany, returning home at the end of December.  In January the choir left for Bermuda followed by a three-month tour of the United States where they performed for President Bill Clinton at a corporate function in Little Rock, Arkansas.  They were invited guests on NBC’s Today Show as well as Late Night with Conan O’Brien, both a special honor for any artist.  The choir returned to South Africa in April for 10 performances of their Blessed show at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, dazzling both reviewers and audiences. Soon after their local performances in April 2006, the choir departed for a five-week tour of the UK, including two sold-out concerts in London. They followed this with a tour of Spain and a month’s season at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival where they were one of the top-selling acts, earning five star reviews. The choir also joined Johnny Clegg as his special guests for his One Life show at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre in July, playing to full houses and reaching new audiences during its two-week run.

On October 7, the choir performed as invited guests for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 75th Birthday Celebrations, in front of an illustrious audience which included former President Nelson Mandela, Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, Tokyo Sexwale, Samuel L. Jackson, Alfre Woodard and Carlos Santana.

Another exciting and memorable occasion for the choir was at Sun City on New Year’s Eve, where they performed for Oprah Winfrey and 200 of her V.I.P. guests including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Sidney Poitier and Quincy Jones.

On February 11, 2007, the Soweto Gospel Choir received probably its greatest accolade, a Grammy Award for the CD Blessed in the category “Best Traditional World Music.” They were also nominated for the 26th International Reggae and World Music Awards, held at the Apollo Theatre, Harlem, on May 5, in the category “Contribution to World Music” alongside Jimmy Cliff, Salif Keita, Youssou N’Dour and Ziggy Marley. In April 2007, the choir won a 2006 SAMA in the Category “Best Live Performance DVD” and in November they added to their string of awards by winning the 2007 Metro FM Award for Best Gospel Album for their latest album African Spirit. On December 9, they were nominated for a second Grammy Award in the Best Traditional World Music Album, for African Spirit.

Soweto Gospel Choir is honored to have Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu as its patron.