Two of South Africa’s finest singers join Europe’s most successful choir

Already a superstar in South Africa, Loyiso Bala along with rising star ONE Gospel i-Shine Southern Starz presenter Courtney Jonas will be jetting off to Norway this month to add their South African flavour to the latest delivery from one of Europe’s most successful Choir outfits. Bala and Jonas have been invited to headline on ‘The Oslo Gospel Choir’s’ latest album.

In a press release about the South African singers’ choir achievement, Integrity Media Africa says it is proud to represent Jonas and Bala as they break into European territory this August, where they will spend a week working in studio to record yet another ground breaking album. Having sold 1.5 million albums globally, The Oslo Gospel Choir has recorded 28 albums, including live DVDs and have performed over 1 000 live shows.

Music greats such as Andrae Crouch, Albertina Walker, Pat Boone, Neil Sedaka, Delois Barrett Campbell of the Barrett Sisters, and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway have featured on their albums, and now it’s South Africa’s turn to feature among these megastars. The choir have also accompanied opera star Placido Domingo on stage at the 1994 Olympic track in Lillehammer. The black American gospel genre forms a large part of the influence in the Oslo Gospel Choir’s unique fusion sound.

Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson, Gordon Brown, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey  are just a few of the legendary names that Loyiso Bala and Courtney Jonas have been invited to perform in front of. “I feel honoured to have been chosen to sing alongside this prestigious choir, and truly understand why the world admires them so much”, says five time South African Music Award (SAMA) winner Loyiso Bala. Always humble he adds that he cannot wait to meet the Oslo Gospel Choir in person.

Jonas, who has risen to fame with her performances on the hit shows ‘High School Musical’ and ‘Evita’ is currently the presenter on the teen music show ‘iShine Southern Starz’ on ONE Gospel, channel 331 DStv (broadcasting every Saturday morning at 8am), and song writer and vocalist on the ‘iShine Southern Starz’ album. “Words cannot describe the amount of excitement and adrenalin flowing through my body the moment I found out about going to Oslo and being the guest female lead vocalist on their next album”, says Jonas.

It is significant that a choir’s appeal has successfully transcended race, age and gender as is such for this 32 piece choir.  Their popularity has reached the Far East, South America and notably South Africa just to name a few. Integrity Media Africa will be releasing this significant new album into stores across Africa towards the end of November, in time for Christmas.