In a contemporary landscape over-crowded with contrived pop confections and over-marketed synthetic music, the heartfelt, exuberant voices of Soweto Gospel Choir are filling an important void for audiences around the world. They are spreading a message of love, joy and hope to audiences regardless of their color, language or faith.  Formed to celebrate the unique, inspirational and powerful tradition of African gospel music, the riveting 26-member choir has won support from Nelson Mandela as well as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, the choir’s patron. Soweto Gospel Choir won over audiences with the January 2005 release of their American debut Voices From Heaven (Shanachie Entertainment), which hit #1 on the Billboard World Music charts and landed in the top five of CMJ’s World Music charts.  They further enchanted music fans with a 35-city tour that was sold out in many markets including Carnegie Hall where they made their debut in front of an enthusiastic New York crowd that was sold out six months in advance!  The much sought after choir, which earned a 2004 American Gospel Music Award for “Best Choir” and 2004 Gospel Music Award for “Best International Choir,” is poised for a bright future. In November 2005, Soweto Gospel Choir will perform in South Africa alongside Diana Ross and Christina Aguilera as part of “Unite Of The Stars,” a concert that will benefit Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund and the Unite Against Hunger charities.

On January 24, 2006, Shanachie Entertainment will release Soweto Gospel Choir’s highly anticipated sophomore CD, Blessed, a sterling collection of inspirational and traditional South African hymns and spirituals including a few refreshing renditions of well-known American gems like “Oh Happy Day.”  The choir will also embark on an impressive 44-city North American tour appearing at major performing arts venues as well as offering special children’s workshops in select cities.
Although fellow South African performers Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Black Umfolosi have introduced many to South African song, the experience of hearing and seeing Soweto Gospel Choir live is like none other. Their emotionally rich vocal performances, athletic dance numbers and spectacularly colored traditional garb engage all the senses. The choir’s performance in Atlanta last year prompted The Atlanta Journal Constitution to say, “Hearing the full choir harmonize sounded less like a couple of dozen people singing together and more like a pipe organ roaring to life.” The choir’s European tour stirred similar sentiments as the Sunday Herald in Scotland proclaimed “You don’t have to be a believer to be inspired.”

Executive Producer/Show Director of Soweto Gospel Choir, Beverly Bryer shares, “The choir’s tour of the US in 2005 was one of its most memorable and exciting.  Although they’ve received incredible responses to their shows wherever they’ve toured, American audience reactions topped anything we ever expected.  Almost a year later, we are still talking with great pride about this tour and the pure enjoyment with which American audiences embraced us and our Voices From Heaven CD, which reached #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart, an enormous achievement for a newly-formed choir from far away Africa. We loved the way the audiences were uninhibited with their response, not afraid to get up and dance, sing along and clap, similar to South African audiences, something the choir really reacts to. The choir is now looking forward to their return visit, bringing their new show ‘Blessed’ to the United States.”