Saturday, October 13, 2018, 8pm Paramount Theatre, Oakland Soweto gospel Choir Milton Ndlakuse Music Director Vincent Jiyane Choir Master Mulalo Mulovhedzi General Manager Mary Mulovhedzi Administrator Choir Members Mirriam Chapole Gugu Mbongwa Sipho Ngcamu Mlungiseleni Jones Mazwe Mhlongo Zanele Ngcamu George Kaudi Siyabolela Mkefa Linda Sambo Sibongile Makgathe Original Msimango Phello Sejake Victor Makhathini Semangele Mongatane Portia Skosana Maserame Ndindwa Touring Crew Toni Rudov Company Manger Maija Putans Stage Manager Andrew Ride Touring Lighting Designer/Operator Leon June JR Touring Audio Designer/Operator producers Andrew Kay International Producer Margot Teele and Toni Rudov Associate Producers www.sowetogospelchoir.com is evening’s program will be performed without an intermission and will last approximately 90 minutes. This performance is made possible, in part, by Patron Sponsors Annette Campbell-White and Ruediger Naumann-Etienne. Cal Performances’ 2018 –19 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo. 2 ABOUT THE ARTISTS A Message from the president Introduction of the Republic of South Africa e spectacular and colorful two-time Gram - to the Soweto gospel Choir my Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir for Freedom , the Mandela Centenary CD return to North America with this special pro - ere are few things that upli the soul more gram celebrating the 100th anniversary of the then the sound of voices in harmony. Song has birth of the Father of their rainbow nation, been an integral and valued accompaniment to Nelson Mandela. the struggle of the South African people to be Hailing from the town of Soweto ( So uth free. It has mobilized, inspired, and comforted We st To wnship), the birthplace of South Africa’s generations of freedom fighters. is album is democratic movement’s struggle for freedom, a worthy tribute to the father of our nation the Soweto Gospel Choir is a multi-Grammy Nelson Rohlihlahla Mandela, and a joyous cel - Award-winning ensemble that has thrilled ebration of the free and united nation that we audiences around the world with its stunning have become. blend of African gospel, freedom songs, and e name Soweto Gospel Choir has become international classics. is is a special appear - synonymous with excellence, in South Africa ance by a group of singers who performed for and beyond our shores. Formed to celebrate Nelson Mandela on many occasions during the unique and inspirational power of African his life and sang at his state funeral at home in Gospel music, this proudly South African en - South Africa as well as at his commemorative semble continues to inspire generations of lis - service at West minster Cathedral in London. teners with its stirring and upliing music. Combining earthy rhythms and rich harmonies Music, wrote Plato, “gives a soul to the uni - and sung in six of South Africa’s 11 official lan - verse, wings to the mind, flight to the imagina - guages, tonight’s performance promises to be a tion, a charm to sadness, and life to everything.” moving experience that will upli the soul. ese are such apt words when reflecting on this country’s history—at times tragic, at times exhilarating, and always deeply infused with the CHOIR HISTORY songs of freedom rendered by our people from generation to generation. ere is no doubt that music has played an instrumental role in not 2002–06 just the anti-apartheid struggle, but also in Soweto Gospel Choir is formed in November, chronicling our liberation. 2002. To mark the centenary of our country’s In December 2002 the group’s first album, founding father, President Nelson Mandela, Voices of Heaven , is recorded. It reaches the the Soweto Gospel Choir has released Freedom , No. 1 spot on Billboard ’s World Music chart a collection of South Africa’s most famous within three weeks of its release in the US. struggle songs, bringing to these well-known melodies their own unique sound. One cannot In 2003 the choir wins its first honor, Australia’s but be moved by these soul-stirring melodies Help mann Award, for Best Contemporary that tell our story as a country and as a nation. Music Concert . I congratulate these great ambassadors for is success is followed with another honor South Africa on this achievement; and am when the choir wins a 2003 American Gospel confident that like the albums that have gone Music Award for Best Choir. before, this offering from the Soweto Gospel at same year, the group wins the coveted Choir will be in the pantheon of legendary American Gospel Music Award for Best Inter - South African music in the years to come. national Choir. —July 10, 2018 Cyril Ramaphosa e choir performs for President Bill Clinton at President of the Republic of South Africa a corporate function in Little Rock, Arkansas. 2B PLAYBILL ABOUT THE ARTISTS In October 2006, the choir appears as invited In February 2008, the choir receives a second guests for patron Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Grammy, for African Spirit , in the Best Tradi- 75th birthday celebrations, before of an illustri - tional World Music category. ous audience that includes former President Also in February 2008, the choir is honored Nelson Mandela, Zanele Mbeki, Tokyo Sex - with the PanSALB Award for Multilingualism wale, Samuel L Jackson, Alfre Woodard, and and Nation Building for Album of the Decade. Carlos Santana. e choir performs with Celine Dion during e Soweto Gospel Choir makes a guest ap - her Taking Chances tour of South Africa. pearance with Diana Ross, Deborah Cox, and Danny K for the “Unite of the Stars” Gala e choir has the honor of performing with Banquet in South Africa in November 2006. gospel legends Bebe Winans and Kirk Franklin. e singers are guests on NBC’s Today Show as In New Orleans, the singers record a track with well as on Late Night with Conan O’Brien . rock legend Robert Plant, which is included on a Fats Domino tribute album, with proceeds e choir also makes guest appearances on e benefiting the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Tonight Show with Jay Leno . A London performance of “Weeping,” with Josh In December 2006 the group performs at Sun Groban and Vusi Mahlasela, is featured on Gro - City, South Africa, for Oprah Winfrey and 200 ban’s latest album, Collection . of her VIP guests, including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Sydney e choir tours the world extensively, perform - Poitier, and Quincy Jones ing at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Nelson Mandela eatre, and Royal Festival Hall in London. 2007–08 e choir performs at high-profile festivals such On February 11, 2007 Soweto Gospel Choir as the Edinburgh Festival, the Adelaide Festival, receives a Grammy Award for its second CD, the Hong Kong Festival, and the London Blessed , in the Best Traditional World Music Festival, always to huge acclaim. category. Soweto Gospel Choir receives its third Grammy At the same time, the choir is nominated for nomination in December 2008, this time in the honors at the 26th International Reggae and Best Contemporary World Music category, for World Music Awards, held at the Apollo Live at the Nelson Mandela eatre. eater, Harlem, on May 5, in the Contribu - e song “Down To Earth” from the block - tion to World Music category, alongside Jimmy buster Wall-E movie, the group’s collaboration Cliff, Salif Keita, Youssou N’Dour, and Ziggy with Peter Gabriel, wins a Grammy in the Best Marley. Movie Song category. In May 2007 the choir wins a SAMA (South In February 2009, the singers become the first African Music Association) Award in the Best South African artists to perform at the Academy Live Performance DVD category. Awards, when they sing “Down To Earth”, the In June 2007 the Soweto Gospel Choir is the Gabriel/Newman Oscar-nominated song, with warmup act for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at John Legend. concerts in Germany. In November 2007 Soweto Gospel Choir wins 2009–10 a Metro FM Music Award for Best Gospel Album for African Spirit , based on nominations In March 2009, the artists are nominated for submitted by the radio station’s listeners, and three SAMAs for their Live at the Nelson Man - the public. dela eatre CD and DVD, winning the award for Best Duo or Group. ABOUT THE ARTISTS In May 2009, the choir is invited to perform 2011–12 at the inauguration of South Africa’s new From May to July 2011 members of the choir president. tour Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, winning In November, members of the Soweto Gospel rave reviews, while others perform in Guade - Choir are flown to Los Angeles to take part in loupe, French Caribbean. a major Pepsi advertising campaign, alongside In July 2011 18 choir members perform in Akon and Keri Hilson. Maastricht, Holland, with classical violinist e choir is one of three featured African Andre Rieu. ey join the Harlem Gospel groups featured at the FIFA World Cup Draw Choir on stage for a first-time collaboration. held in Cape Town in December 2009. Soweto Gospel Choir joins Archbishop In April 2010 Soweto Gospel Choir is honored Des mond Tutu and his guests for the arch - with the inaugural International Achievement bishop’s birthday celebration, held in Cape Town Award at the South African Music Awards held in October 2011. ey perform at the launch in Sun City. of Tutu’s new book, and back Bono on “I Still Also in April, the choir is invited to perform at Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” as a sur - the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Trade prise for the archbishop. ey also sing with Expo, held in Shanghai, as the African repre - other artists at both the cathedral service and at sentative.