Soweto Gospel Choir Returns to the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 2/11

The Soweto Gospel Choir will perform at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Thursday, February 11. This concert marks the choir's fourth appearance at the Phillips Center. The choir made their U.S. debut at the Phillips Center in 2005.

Formed in November 2002 by promoters/presenters Andrew Kay, David Vigo and Clifford Hocking, in association with Executive Producer/Director Beverly Bryer and Musical Director David Mulovhedzi (1948-2009), Soweto Gospel Choir's nearly eight-year existence has become a 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" and in October they won the 2004 Gospel Music Award (also U.S.-based) for "Best International Choir." In South Africa, their debut CD, Voices from Heaven, was nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award). This CD reached the number one spot on Billboard's World Music Chart within three weeks of its U.S. release, debuting at number three. In 2007, the choir won a SAMA for best Live DVD for Blessed.

Wherever Soweto Gospel Choir has performed, it has wowed audiences. At the Edinburgh Festival in 2005 and again in 2007, it was among the top selling shows. It was also listed as the critics' choice in all major publications.

The choir has performed with internationally renowned artists such as Diana Ross, Celine Dion, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bono of U2, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox and Queen. They have sung for Oprah Winfrey, President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Nelson Mandela. They were invited guests on NBC's Today Show as well as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a special honor for any artist. The choir has recorded with Robert Plant and Peter Gabriel.

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 then went on to win their second Grammy Award in February 2008 for their CD African Spirit, in the same category.

Soweto Gospel Choir is a proud ambassador for 46665, former President Nelson Mandela's AIDS awareness initiative, having performed at the inaugural concert in Cape Town in 2003, and the concerts in Johannesburg in December 2007 and London in June 2008. The choir also has its own charity foundation, Nkosi's Haven Vukani, which raises money to support AIDS orphans organizations that receive little or no government funding.

The choir continues to tour the world and perform to sell-out audiences and huge acclaim, and have been heralded as one of the most exciting artists to emerge in the international World Music market in recent years.

Ticket Prices: $23.25 - $39.25

Web sites:
University of Florida Performing Arts: http://www.performingarts.ufl.edu/
Soweto Gospel Choir: http://www.sowetogospelchoir.com/

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