Soweto String Quartet

The Soweto String Quartet is a string quartet from the township of Soweto near Johannesburg ( South Africa). The group combines classical European music, African styles and intonations and Western pop music.

The three brothers Reuben Khemese (cello ), Sandile Khemese ( first violin ) and Thami Khemese (second violin ) and Makhosini Mnguni ( Viola) formed the group in 1989. Already the father of the three brothers was a conductor, was the mother of choir singer. Sandile studied at the British Dartington College of Arts and the Royal North College of Music in Manchester, before returning to South Africa in 1986 and for three years taught at a music school in Madima who had specialized in traditional African music. Sandile and Reuben Khemese were also members of the Soweto Symphony Orchestra.

A first great success they achieved during a nine -month engagement in Sun City, where Grahame Beggs she discovered and a contract for the Bertelsmann Music Group signed. In 1994 the debut album Zebra Crossing and received a gold record. In the same year, the group played at the swearing-in of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa and was invited on other occasions from him. Soon after publication of the first CD, the quartet successfully toured the U.S., Asia and Europe.

Discography

• Zebra Crossing (1994 )
• Millenia
• Our World
• Renaissance
• Four
• Rhythms of Africa