Season 1
Clash of the Choirs South Africa is a South African reality singing competition based on the international format devised by Swedish singer Caroline af Ugglas and produced locally by Endemol South Africa which features amateur choirs from seven different provinces, mentored by celebrity musicians, competing for a prize of R500,000 (R250,000 for the winning choir and R250,000 to a charity of their choice).
Season 1 was won by a 20-person choir from KwaZulu-Natal, mentored by Khaya Mthethwa.
Clash of the Choirs South Africa, presented by Bonang Matheba, brings ordinary people with a common passion for singing together, beginning with auditions held in seven provinces from November 2012.
The format for Clash of the Choirs unleashes new South African choral talent – sopranos, tenors and bass singers who can blend in harmony to make the best of the best choir.
Seven musical celebrities travel to a designated province to audition up-and-coming amateur choirs. The successful choirs return to Johannesburg with their celebrity choirmaster to compete against other celebrity-headed choirs in a nine-week musical bonanza where R250,000 is up for grabs for the charity of their choice.
The judging panel constitutes multi-award winning Queen of Gospel, Rebecca Malope, along with Joyous Celebration co-founder Lindelani Mkhize and radio and TV personality Anele Mdoda. The judges monitor the choirs' performances and decide their fate in weekly elimination rounds.
Besides keeping a watchful eye on every note sung, the judges are also tasked with monitoring each choir's technical ensemble and creativity in executing each musical piece, looking for the most polished and nurtured voices.
Seven celebrity choirmasters coach the choirs and prepare them for their battle to secure a spot in the Top 3 to go into the final spectacular live show – where South Africa votes for their favourite amateur choir.
The seven choirmasters travelled to designated provinces to audition the up-and-coming amateur choirs. Zakes Bantwini (Gauteng); Zwai Bala (Mpumalanga); Khaya Mthethwa (KZN); Judith Sephuma (Limpopo); Thembi Seete (Free State); Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse (North West) and Winnie Khumalo (Western Cape) pull out all the stops for their choirs to impress the judges.
Winner takes all!