Zimpraise Gospel Choir has started a music academy that will groom talented youngsters before they are promoted to the main choir.
The new initiative, which targets children within the five to 16 age bracket, is meant to boost the reservoir of talent available to Zimbabwe’s leading gospel choir.
The choir’s publicist, Farirai Macheka told the Daily News that the first rehearsal would be held soon.
“We held auditions on April 17 and 18 this year and we were overwhelmed by the children’s turnout since we had communicated the programme through social network sites,” she said.
“We received 160 children and selected 100 after the screening process. We hope to do the first rehearsals this weekend.”
Macheka said the academy was is fulfilment of a long-held ambition.
“This is something that we have always wanted to do because in the long run the same children we are grooming will be able to join the Zimpraise main choir.
The academy, responsible for grooming the children, was formed at the beginning of the year and we are excited that we will now be able to identify and nurture talent from this year onwards,” said the Zimpraise publicist.
The popular choir was formed in 2006 as a result of a strong desire to unite various denominations in Zimbabwe through song and worship.
Famous music producer Macdonald ‘Macdee’ Chidavaenzi is widely regarded as the one who set the stage for the formation of what has become arguably the best interdenominational choir in Zimbabwe.
The first project featured a number of now prominent gospel musicians including Pastor G, Gordon Taurai Nzira, Bethan Pasinawako-Ngolomi, Tawanda Pashapa and many others.
Ever since the interdenominational group recorded its first album titled Zimpraise Volume 1 in December 2007, the interdenominational group has recorded six live DVD recordings.
Their last recording released a few months ago contains 35 songs. The highly-successful album, which contains the song Sungano, featured gospel musician Mathias Mhere.
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