May 26, 2003
By Jonews Reporter
THE Soweto Gospel Choir has just won a prestigious Australian award for their concert performance entitled "Voices of Heaven".
The choir won a Helpmann award in the category "Best contemporary concert presentation". The Helpmann awards, named after Sir Robert Helpmann, were established in Australia in 2001 for excellence and achievement in the live entertainment industry and are similar to the Tony Awards on Broadway or the Olivier Awards in London.
The Soweto Gospel Choir bowled audiences over with their powerful performances when they toured Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. They received standing ovations after each show, including at a performance at the Sydney Opera House.
With their fast-growing international profile and the rapid success of their album (also entitled Voices of Heaven) the Soweto Gospel Choir is now better known to foreigners than those at home. But this is hardly surprising, given that the choir only formed in November last year, and their album is still to be released in South Africa.
Choir master David Mulovhedzi believes the success of the 32-member choir must be attributed to the fact that it is simply tapping into the enormous talent pool in South Africa. Its members hail from churches in Soweto and are backed by a four-piece band consisting of bass guitar, lead guitar, keyboards and drums and dancers. All choir members are lead singers in their own community choirs.
The choir sings traditional African gospel and a cappella. The Australian and New Zealand performances also included other gospel greats like "Amazing Grace", "Paradise Road" and music by Otis Redding and reggae artist Jimmy Cliff.
The performances abroad were described as charismatic, conjuring the soul of South Africa and expressing its hopes. Mulovhedzi said the concert was intended to "take home for a brief while" many of the expatriates living in both Australia and New Zealand.
According to Australia's ABC shop online "the "Voices from Heaven" CD showcases an inspirational programme of acapella and African gospel.
Ranging from traditional African gospel to songs drawn from Western and contemporary gospel traditions, South African gospel music is indeed unique. It has strong roots in traditional music and conveys a powerful spiritual message."
The Soweto Gospel Choir, set to take part in the Edinburgh Festival and embark on a European tour later this year, will perform at the Blues Room, Village Walk, Johannesburg on June 3.
