The Leo Catholic High School choir is one step closer to achieving the grand, $1 million prize on “America’s Got Talent.”
The all-boys choir from Chicago’s South Side made it to the semifinals Wednesday night after waiting more than 24 hours to know their fate.
The voting period, which ended at 6 a.m. Wednesday, relied on viewers across America to decide which acts would make it to the next round.
The choir now joins rapper Mama Duke, viral dance group Unreal and a 10-year-old musical prodigy named Bay Melnick Virgolino in the semifinals, set to begin Sept. 16.
The Leo Catholic High School choir’s journey from Auburn Gresham to “America’s Got Talent” has captivated viewers and the celebrity judges — Simon Cowell, Mel B, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara — because of their bright futures.
With the help of the Leo boys’ choir director LaDonna Hill, the teens have all gone from having little to no music experience to performing on one of the grandest stages of all.
Some of them, like recent grad Keith Smith, are going on to study music business at Columbia College Chicago.
At the top of the live results show that aired on NBC on Wednesday night, the Leo choir first found out the group was marked “safe” after being ranked among the top five out of ten acts that performed at the quarterfinals the night prior.
And with their arms over each other’s shoulders, the Leo boys waited patiently until the very end of the show to find out where America ranked them.
Hill, who retired this year from her job after 25 years, has also become a storyline on the show.
“Everyone in life, I believe, does need a mentor,” Simon Cowell said Tuesday while pleading with her to return to the classroom. “I really, really feel that this is what this show is all about.”
Host Terry Crews asked Hill if she’d reconsider going back.
“I would reconsider,” she said through tears while the boys huddled around her for a group hug. “This is amazing. This is amazing.”
Hill couldn’t be reached for comments on Wednesday.
The boys told a reporter earlier this week that their only goal going into the quarterfinals was to get a golden buzzer from the judges.
The season has only featured six golden buzzers, which allow groups to skip ahead to the finals. If Mel B, the judge with the buzzer in her possession that night, had pushed it, their goal would have been met.
About an hour into Tuesday’s episode, the young men’s choir put on the performance of a lifetime.
The Leo boys’ choir did a cover of “Believer” by Imagine Dragons for their second appearance on the show.
Their performance included high-flying choreography, blazing pyro and matching camouflage pants and combat boots.
Unfortunately for the Leo choir, Mel B had already pushed her golden buzzer. That special buzzer went to Mama Duke.
But commenters on Instagram felt as if the golden buzzer should’ve gone to the Leo choir.
“Now THIS should have been the golden buzzer tonight,” one wrote.
“YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD THE GOLDEN BUZZER,” wrote another.
Each judge had something positive to say about the boys’ performance.
Mandel told the boys he never thought he’d say that a choir would outperform cheerleaders and magic, two other styles of performances given in the evening.
“America has to vote for you,” Mel B said. “I have no golden buzzer left, but I would’ve given it to you guys.”
The boys have described the choir as a brotherhood. If the young men win the “America’s Got Talent” competition, the plan is to split the $1 million prize among them all and put it toward their college expenses.