For Immediate Release Contact: Carol Sisco [email protected] (860) 275-7212 cpbn.org, cptv.org, wnpr.org

CPTV to Air Bala Brothers on Monday, January 12 at 9 p.m. — The Concert Special Comes to PBS for the First Time with This Premiere Event —

HARTFORD, Conn. (December 31, 2014) – Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) will host the U.S. broadcast premiere of Bala Brothers, Monday, January 12, live at 9 p.m. Bala Brothers, who will be live in the CPTV studios, grew up poor in a South African township and rose to become national singing stars while breaking through apartheid barriers.

During the concert special, viewers will hear a mix of South African traditional music and contemporary songs from Elton John, Paul Simon and Billy Joel. During the live breaks, Bala Brothers will be interviewed in the studio.

This program features the amazing musicianship of the three gifted brothers, who are already stars in their own country; they grew up in a home with dirt floors and no electricity, but were able to lift themselves out of poverty through their sheer talent.

Brothers Zwai, Loyiso and Phelo come from a musical family, and all three possess remarkable innate musical abilities and singing voices. They remain influenced by their membership in South Africa’s famous Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. In fact, older brother Zwai broke barriers by becoming the choir’s first black member.

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They are drawn to a number of musical genres, from pop to gospel to opera. Their talents will be displayed in full-force in their first-ever PBS concert special, which was recorded live at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the participation of a 24- piece orchestra and the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir – the very choir that played such an important role in the brothers’ lives, and for which Phelo went on to hold the positions of head chorister and music leader.

“CPTV is proud to be the station selected by PBS to premiere Bala Brothers. This group represents a triumph in human nature. The Connecticut audience is sure to be touched by the music and their story,” said Laura Savini, CPTV National Productions executive.

About Connecticut Public Television CPTV is a media service of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN). It is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including original documentaries, public affairs shows and educational programming. CPTV has built a reputation as a leader in children’s programming, including playing an historic role in bringing Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™ and Thomas & Friends™ to public television. The station offers 11.5 hours of positive, nurturing children’s programs each weekday, reaching 450,000 households each week. The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network also includes WNPR, an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. WNPR serves 276,000 listeners weekly in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island with news and information. Its award-winning local programming includes The Faith Middleton Show, The Colin McEnroe Show and Where We Live. CPBN also includes two affiliate channels: CPTV4U, a 24/7 television channel featuring award-winning drama, news and talk programming, concert performances, independent films, nature shows, British comedy and more; and CPTV Sports, Connecticut’s only 24-hour local sports network, covering statewide high school, college, semi-professional and professional sports. CPBN also houses the Learning Lab, home to the Journalism & Media Academy Magnet School satellite campus and the Institute for Advanced Media, which includes the Veterans Vocational Training Program. For more information, visit CPTV.org.