Soweto Choir and U2 share award

ESPN’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Music Presentation: U2 and the Soweto Gospel Choir receive a Sports Emmy Award.

The award was in the Outstanding Music Composition / Direction / Lyrics category at the Annual Sports Emmy Awards presented for the 32nd year by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in New York on Monday night.

ESPN’s unprecedented commitment of resources to an event, for the month-long FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa, was rewarded with three Sports Emmy Awards, including recognition of the outstanding Soweto Gospel Choir and U2 collaboration. “We are proud to be associated with ESPN and U2 for their magnificent 2010 FIFA World Cup television campaign,” says Beverly Bryer, the Choir’s Executive Producer/Director.

Since Soweto Gospel Choir’s introduction to the world eight years ago, this amazing choir has amassed a growing local and international fan-base and received many local and international awards. “It’s really exciting to add an Emmy to the Choir’s three SAMA Awards, two Grammy Awards, three associated Grammy Awards and an Oscar nomination,” adds Beverly Bryer.

Wherever Soweto Gospel Choir has performed, be it at home in South Africa or Europe, Asia, Australia, the UK and the USA, the Choir has dazzled audiences and received critical acclaim. Created in late 2002, the Choir has achieved an almost unbelievable array of accomplishments: the first South African group to perform at the Academy Awards; two #1 Billboard World Music Chart albums, collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Robert Palmer, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Akon and U2. The choir is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world. Long may they fly the South African flag.