Soweto Gospel Choir in Edmonton March 16, 2010
The two-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir is heralded as one of the most exciting groups to emerge in world music in recent years. A sell-out success when it premiered at the Edinburgh Festival 2007, African Spirit celebrates the strength of the human spirit and captures the beauty and passion that is Africa.
Through vibrant rhythm, movement and its renowned vocal tapestry, the Choir perform a repertoire that reflects some of the history of their Rainbow Nation, songs of remembrance for the past, as well as songs of joy and praise for the present and future with a repertoire ranging from the traditional African gospel song "Sefapano" to an extraordinary new interpretation of Bob Dylan's "I'll Remember You" that literally takes the breath away.
The Soweto Gospel Choir draws on the best talent from the many churches and communities in and around Soweto, South Africa and performs in six different languages, including English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. Since its first international performances in Australia in 2002, the Soweto Gospel Choir has become a worldwide phenomenon performing sell-out concerts at the worlds greatest concert halls.
In 2009/10, the Soweto Gospel Choir embarks on major tours of the UK, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands as well as its fourth tour of the USA & Canada. In its short but spectacular career, Soweto Gospel Choir has sung alongside superstars including Bono, Queen, Annie Lennox, Dionne Warwick, Jimmy Cliff and Celine Dion, shared top billing in Paris with South African legend, Johnny Clegg, was the support act to the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Germany and recorded with Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant for the Fats Domino tribute album "Going Home" and Peter Gabriel on the Disney Pixar Wall-e soundtrack.
The choir has sung on numerous occasions for the father of democracy in South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was the guest stars at Oprah's famous 2007 New Year's party at Sun City, performed for Bill Clinton and sang Happy Birthday to its beloved Patron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In 2007, Soweto Gospel Choir won its first Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album (for its second album "Blessed") and won their second one year later for the same category at the 2008 Grammy Awards (for its third album "African Spirit").
Come and hear the glorious sounds of one of the most popular gospel choirs in the world in Edmonton on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.
