Feb. 13, UAB’s Alys Stephens Center to Present South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center will present the Soweto Gospel Choir at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Come early for a live performance by the Magic City Boys Choir in the ASC Grand Lobby. Tickets are $45, $35, $25; $20 for students and $10 kid-friendly tickets.

   January 25, 2010

Soweto Gospel Choir. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's Alys Stephens Center will present the Soweto Gospel Choir at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Come early for a live performance by the Magic City Boys Choir in the ASC Grand Lobby. Tickets are $45, $35, $25; $20 for students and $10 kid-friendly tickets. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. UAB faculty and staff will receive a 20 percent discount on tickets. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

The Soweto Gospel Choir transcends barriers of race, culture and language to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African gospel music. Direct from South Africa, the Grammy-winning, 26-member choir draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. This young, dynamic choir, accompanied by a stellar band and percussion ensemble, performs traditional and contemporary music, adding its own feel and interpretation to both - in six of South Africa's 11 official languages.  Expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, a cappella numbers, energetic dancing and vibrant costumes.

The choir has won the American Gospel Music Award for "Best Choir" and for "Best International Choir." In their own country, their debut CD "Voices from Heaven" was nominated for a SAMA Award for "Best Traditional Gospel." This CD also garnered rave reviews and reached No. 1 on Billboard's World Music Chart within three weeks of its United States debut at No. 3. Their next CD, "Blessed," was released in July 2004, followed by "African Spirit" in 2007.

Soweto Gospel Choir is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with its audiences. They have performed for Nelson Mandela at the famous Cape Town concert and alongside musical greats including Bono, Queen, Jimmy Cliff and the Eurythmics. Moviegoers heard their recent performance with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack of the animated blockbuster "WALL-E." This show is part of the Global Rhythm Series and is sponsored by The Birmingham News, WBHM and Viva Health.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world's best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama.