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Sukup Manufacturing proudly presents the famed Soweto Gospel Choir at the North Iowa Community Auditorium on Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the 2009-2010 NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

This young dynamic choir performs both traditional and contemporary music, adding its own unique feel to both. The choir performs in six of South Africa’s 11 official languages. You can expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, energetic dancing, colorful costumes and accompaniment by their four-piece band and percussion section.  

Formed in November of 2002, Soweto Gospel Choir’s seven-year journey has become an award-winning international sensation. Their debut CD “Voices From Heaven” reached Number 1 on Billboard’s World Music Chart within three weeks of its US release, after debuting at Number 3. Their next CD, “Blessed,” was released in July 2004, followed by “African Spirit” in 2007, through Universal Music.

The Choir has garnered international popularity and critical acclaim by performing in Europe, Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US. They have been invited to perform on some of the biggest stages in show business, such as the Academy Awards, South Africa’s 46664 concerts, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Today Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

In 2003, South African President Nelson Mandela’s put on the first 46664 Concert in Cape Town. The line-up featured the Soweto Gospel Choir in action alongside other musical greats like Bono, Queen, Anastacia, Peter Gabriel, and Jimmy Cliff and the Eurythmics.

On October 7, 2006, 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, Samuel L Jackson, and Carlos Santana.

Another memorable occasion for the choir was at Sun City on New Year’s Eve 2006, where they performed for Oprah Winfrey and 200 of her V.I.P. guests, including Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Sydney Poitier and Quincy Jones. The choir then departed for their US and Canada tour in January 2007, having begun with a guest appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” While in New Orleans, they recorded a track with rock legend Robert Plant, to be included on a tribute album of Fats Domino songs, with its proceeds going to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In June 2009, the Choir was honored again as an opening act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ German tour.

On December 1, 2008, the choir joined a host of top national and international musicians for the third 46664 Concert on World Aids Day in Johannesburg, South Africa. They shared the stage with music greats Peter Gabriel and Corinne Bailey Rae, among others. In June of 2009, they performed at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London alongside music legends Amy Winehouse, Josh Groban, Simple Minds, and Eddy Grant. 

The choir recently collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the song “Down To Earth” for Disney’s blockbuster animated movie “Wall-E”, and their 46664 London performance of “Weeping”, with Josh Groban and Vusi Mahlasela, is featured on Josh’s latest album “Collection”.

Soweto Gospel Choir has garnered numerous awards during its five year existence. Their first Grammy was awarded in 2007 for the CD “Blessed” in the category “Best Traditional World Music.” In 2008, the choir received their second Grammy Award for “Best Traditional World Music Album,” this time for the CD “African Spirit.” 

Soweto Gospel Choir received its third nomination for the 2008 Grammys in the category “Best Contemporary World Music,” for the album, “Live at the Nelson Mandela Theatre.” 

One of their most important collaborations occurred with Peter Gabriel on “Down to Earth,” for Disney’s blockbuster Wall-E movie. This song helped the Soweto Gospel Choir achieve their third Grammy win and fourth nomination as well as a 2009 Academy-Award Nomination for “Best Movie Song.” The group also performed “Down to Earth” with John Legend at the 2009 Academy Awards, becoming the first South Africans to ever perform at the Oscars.

No amount of glittering international recognition has diverted Soweto Gospel Choir from a mission it holds close at heart. In 2003, the choir founded its own AIDS orphan’s foundation, Nkosi’s Haven Vukani. Their foundation supports families and organizations that receive little or no government support. To date, the choir has collected over half a million dollars for their foundation.  Whenever they are in South Africa, the choir performs for a variety of charitable functions, fundraisers, and visits others less privileged than themselves who can be uplifted by the choir’s inspirational music and spirit.

For tickets to hear the Soweto Gospel Choir, call the NIACC Box Office at 1-888-466-4222 ext. 4188. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.niacc.edu.

Platinum Sponsors for the 2009-2010 series include NIACC; Globe Gazette Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund; the Globe Gazette; Alliant Energy; Henkel Construction; Kraft; Mason City Clinic; Principal Financial Group; and Soener Foundation. Gold sponsors include Community National Bank; Diamond Joe Casino; First Citizens National Bank; First State Bank of Belmond; Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa; Martin, Cooney, MacNider & Cooney Financial Consultants of Raymond James & Associates, Inc.; Sukup Manufacturing; and Dr. Gary W. Swenson and Dean A. Genth. In kind sponsors include Country Inn and Suites; and KIMT.

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