Four-time, Grammy award-winning, and internationally acclaimed, world music sensation, the Soweto Gospel Choir, will perform at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Direct from South Africa, the Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Lehman Center with an all-new concert, entitled “Hope: It’s Been A Long Time Coming,” commemorating the freedom movement in South Africa and the civil rights movement in the United States.

The Soweto Gospel Choir will perform a series of South African freedom songs, along with music of the civil rights era, including selections by legendary artists, James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, and the one-and-only, Aretha Franklin. According to the concert promoters, the choir’s universal message of love, unity, and hope, along with their captivating melodic and harmonic wonder, mesmerizing showmanship, and awe-inspiring performances, featuring bright and colorful carnival costumes, have made believers of millions of fans around the world.

The choir was formed in Soweto, South Africa in 2002 by choir directors, David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer. According to the event promoters, “The 20-member ensemble comprises some of South Africa’s greatest singers and blends elements of African gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae, and American pop music.”

 

Their first album, “Voices of Heaven,” was recorded in December 2002, and went on to reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s World Music Chart within 3 weeks of its United States release. Their next album, Blessed (2005), won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music, as did their following release, African Spirit (2007), in 2008. In 2009, they were nominated for three South African Music Awards (SAMA) for their Grammy-nominated album, “Live at the Nelson Mandela Theatre,” winning the SAMA for Best Duo or Group.

The choir received their fourth Grammy nomination in 2010 for their next album, “Grace.” They have also received Grammy Awards for their contributions on “Down to Earth” (2009), the choir’s collaboration with Peter Gabriel for the film, “Wall-E,” as well as two Grammy Awards for Christopher Tin’s song, “Baba Yetu” (2010).

Over the years, the choir has recorded and/or performed with stars as varied as Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Josh Groban, Hugh Masekela, John Legend, the Black-Eyed Peas, Anjelique Kidjo, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to their Grammy Awards, the choir has been honored with one Emmy Award, three South African SAMA Awards (and six nominations), one Oscar nomination, and two Kora All-African Award nominations, among others. However, the choir considers their greatest achievement to be their charity, Nikosi’s Haven Vukani, for which they have raised over $1.5 million to assist victims of AIDS and their families in South Africa.

 

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, by public funds through the SVOG Grant. In addition, the center received funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the New York City Council and the Bronx delegation. They center gives special thanks to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, U.S. senate majority leader, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7) for their support of arts and culture, by implementing the SVOG grant.

The center would also like to thank Assemblyman José Rivera (A.D. 78) for what representatives said was his generous grant from The New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department. Additional funding is provided by the New York State Council of the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The 2022-2023 season is also made possible through sponsorship by Goya Foods, Con Edison, Havana Café, and Friends of Lehman Center.

 

The center is located on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for Soweto Gospel Choir on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. can be purchased for $75, $55, $45, $35, $25 by calling the Lehman Center box office at (718) 960-8833, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and beginning at 4 p.m. on the day of the concert. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased online at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/soweto-gospel-choir. The center is accessible via the 4 or D subways to Bedford Park Boulevard, or by road, off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.