Grammy Award-Winning Soweto Gospel Choir Comes to Asheville

The vibrant rhythms, bold colors, pulsating percussions, bouncing dance steps, and uplifting melodies of Soweto Gospel Choir will fill the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 4 p.m. Presented by Asheville Bravo Concerts as a part of its 80th season, Soweto Gospel Choir embodies the unique and inspirational power of African gospel music with a magnificent, high-energy performance.

Honoring the rich musical history of South Africa and drawing on the best talent from churches in and around Soweto, the choir’s earthy rhythms, rich vocal harmonies, and energetic dances have continuously left audiences around the world stunned with awe and emotion. Accompanied by a talented four-piece band and percussion section, the dynamic, world-celebrated group performs both traditional and contemporary music in six of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

Formed 10 years ago, Soweto Gospel Choir quickly earned international fame and recognition as top performers in World Music. Winners of two Grammy awards, the choir has toured around the world, sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences on nearly every continent, and performing with other musical greats like Bono, Jimmy Cliff, Josh Groben, Aretha Franklin, and Robert Plant. In 2009, the group became the first South African artists to perform at the Academy Awards when they sang their award-winning song “Down to Earth” from the Disney film “Wall-E,” made in collaboration with artist Peter Gabriel.

Tickets for Soweto Gospel Choir are $15-$60 and are available at the Asheville Civic Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com, or by calling Asheville Bravo Concerts at (828) 225-5887. Student tickets are half-price.

For more information please call (828) 225-5887 and visit www.ashevillebravoconcerts.org.