Soweto Gospel Choir to Perform at Holland Center, 3/27

Omaha Performing Arts presents Soweto Gospel Choir at the Holland Center on Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of Omaha Performing Arts' 13/14 Season. Tickets start at $20 and are available at TicketOmaha.com, 402.345.0606 or at the Ticket Omaha Office inside the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.

Soweto Gospel Choir has enjoyed more than a decade of success, earning accolades and awards as they tour the world. The choir has won Emmy Award®, two Grammy Awards®, three South African Music Association Awards and an Oscar nomination. The 45-member choir is led by choir leaders Shimmy Jiyane, Diniloxolo Ndlakuse and Mazwe Mhlongo. Backed by a small band, Soweto Gospel Choir weaves nuanced harmonies into the melodies of African spirituals, American gospel tunes and the occasional pop hit.

Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in November 2002; the following year, the group began winning awards. They won Grammy Awards® in the Best Traditional World Music category in 2007 for Blessed and 2008 for African Spirit. In 2009, their collaboration with Peter Gabriel on the song "Down To Earth" in Wall-E earned a Grammy® as well. The choir won a Sports Emmy Award as winners of the Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics for a campaign they did with U2.

Some of the performance highlights for the choir include performing at Archbishop Desmond Tutu's 75th and 80th birthday celebrations with an audience that included former President Nelson Mandela, Samuel L. Jackson and Carlos Santana. In December 2006, they performed at Sun City, South Africa, for Oprah Winfrey and 200 of her V.I.P. guests. They've performed with numerous acts including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Celine Dion and Robert Plant. They were included in the all-star line up to kick off the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2009.

The choir has toured the world extensively, performing at venues like Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, the Nelson Mandela Theatre and Royal Festival Hall in London. They've also

appeared on NBC's Today Show as well as on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Soweto Gospel Choir founded its own AIDS orphans foundation, Nkosi's Haven Vukani, to assist organizations that receive little or no funding. Other charitable endeavors included being ambassadors for Mandela's 46664 campaign, SHOUT, 1Goal, United Nation's MDG Envoys for Africa and Interpol's "Proud to Be" campaign.

To see a video medley by the choir, visit TicketOmaha.com. Soweto Gospel Choir performs March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Single tickets start at $20 and can be purchased online at TicketOmaha.com, by phone at 402.345.0606, or at the Ticket Omaha Office in the Holland Center.

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