Bonang leads the choir

New reality choir clash is set to wow South Africa

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the highly successful Idols SA comes a brand-new music reality show - Clash of the Choirs South Africa.

The show, based on the American format of the same name, is about recording artists assembling choirs in their home towns and coaching them to blend in harmony.

Amongst those being punted as earmarked to grace the show are Y-FM DJ Bonang Matheba, who is expected to present the show, acclaimed musical directors Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane, Chicco Thwala, RJ Benjamin and 5-FM DJ Anele Mdoda.

They are among several big names that have been lined up for top roles in the show.

What's more, musician and dance sensation Zakes Bantwini, kwaito act TKZee member Zwai Bala and Idols Season 8 winner Khaya Mthethwa were the first three musical celebrity choir masters to be unveiled by the show's producers, DStv's Mzansi Magic.

The show is basically about recording artists assembling choirs in their home towns, coaching them and then blending their harmony to a world-beating, highly competitive level.

From the list of celebrity choir masters, a panel of three high-profile judges and two highly acclaimed musical directors, first up will be Bantwini.

He has the task of assembling the 20 best voices during the first Johannesburg auditions from up-and-coming amateur choirs at the Bassline in Newtown this weekend.

Bala and Mthethwa are due to hold auditions in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal respectively next week.

Bala - with experience gained from being a chorister in the Drakensburg Boys Choir and a hosting slot on Classic FM's international and local Top 10 charts, seems to be the perfect candidate for the job.

"This is straight up my alley as my roots are in choral music from my family and I am excited about it," Bala said yesterday.

"I have done vocal studies and I have a deep interest in choral music, and it is all great for what I will be doing."

Mthethwa's suitability as a talent scout - though seemingly coming in the earliest stage of his own career - seems to be also entrenched after he had mesmerised many during the latest Idols talent search season, as well as having been a pivotal part of numerous performances with the acclaimed Joyous Celebration and and in his pastor father's church choir.

Several other celebrity choir masters from seven provinces are expected to compete for a R250000 winner-takes-all purse - which has been set aside for a charity of the winner's choice.

The organisers told Sowetan that Northern Cape and Eastern Cape have been omitted at this stage of the competition.