Upcoming, Bulawayo based gospel choir Destiny Praise’s fate in the music industry looks shaky as financial problems have stalled the much awaited album.

Destiny Praise’s vocal prowess is something Zimbabwe has not sampled musically, but such talent is wasting in the gutters of obscurity.

Formed in 2010 under the name Glorious Melodies, Destiny Praise’s musical journey has not been a bed of roses as no sponsor has come on board to support the vibrant gospel outfit.

Last year the group’s recording plans hit a brick wall when it failed to secure enough funding to record a complete album and ended up recording two tracks on digital format.

“We wanted to record five tracks, but only managed to record two,” Abraham Morrison Lungu, Destiny Praise founder said.

“Our major challenge is funding. Some of the choir members have left because we lack sponsorship,” Lungu said adding that the major thrust for 2014 is to look for sponsorship.

To improve its financial muscle, Lungu a keyboard player and former Music Academy student, will start a music school this year as fund raising tool for their upcoming album.

Apart from being a cash cow the school is expected to teach music basics to local musicians who do not possess formal musical education.

Destiny Praise is undoubtedly one of the leading choirs in Bulawayo at the moment, having proven it mettle in last year’s concert held at Bulawayo Theatre.

The choir is run on an interdenominational basis, with a pool of musicians from various churches around the city.

The concert surpassed the expectations of many as it was well attended and aiming at exposing the vast musical talent in Bulawayo.

“Our first concert was well attended. Our aim is to equip, promote and nurture Bulawayo talent,” Lungu said.

He said it was high time that Bulawayo produced quality music so as to improve its competitiveness with artistes from Harare and other countries regionally.

“We need to improve the standards of gospel music in Bulawayo. Musicians need to be creative because our market if hungry for fresh sound,” he said.

Every year Destiny Praise holds auditions for vocalists, instrumentalists and song writers. The group is in the process of compiling a catalogue of own compositions so as to be unique.

“We also do auditions for song writers. We want to sing our own songs and so away with the culture of remixing songs,” Lungu who has worked with artistes like Carol Mujokoro , Pastor G, Mkhululi Bhebhe and Sandra Ndebele said.

 Many choirs in Bulawayo have great vocal abilities, but lack song writers.

Choirs like Vocal Extraordinaire, Family Voices, Hosanna and Creame Voices perform renditions of well- known gospel tracks, but gospel fans have always lamented lack of originality in the upcoming groups.

 Lungu said his choir will hold one major concert this year, while plans are in place to assist individual musicians with exposure through providing backing vocals.