Have you heard about the Birmingham choir group that struck gold—or rather, Simon Cowell, co-host of NBC’s show America’s Got Talent, struck the golden buzzer after hearing them perform?
“I’m so honored that you would come here on our 20th anniversary, and in return, I want to give you something,” Simon said on the show as he reached for the gold buzzer.
It’s true—the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir auditioned in March of this year for Season 20, performing “Joy,” and it was a hit! If, like me, you’ve watched America’s Got Talent for years, you know what a huge accomplishment it is to even make it on the show. (One time, I had the opportunity of sitting in the audience to watch auditions in Los Angeles and no one we watched even made it on TV!) And to get the golden buzzer, allowing them to move on straight to the live shows without any need for voting? Needless to say, it’s a huge deal—and they’re from our city!
“I always dreamed about being on there,” Payton Marbury, a student at W.J. Christian K–8, shares in a video interview as she thinks back on her experience performing on AGT.
The choir was founded in June of 2015 with a one-off back-to-school concert that three friends used to encourage school supplies donations to help the Birmingham community. The “one-time show” quickly morphed into an active choir, directed by Ahkeem R. Lee, and became a non-profit organization in 2023. The choir “aims to provide a creative space for youth & young adults to share and develop their musical talents through proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” according to their website. And they’ve certainly had many opportunities to share their talents with Birmingham, opening up for Former Senator Doug Jones, Bishop Marvin Winans, and comedian Rickey Smiley, as well as performing at conventions and events such as the Gospel Music Workshop of America and UAB Men’s Basketball.
“It’s been ten years of a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, and a lot of sacrifice. I’m just really, really excited,” Lee explains in his video interview with Birmingham City Schools. No one would have imagined that a handful of young people “sharing the gospel through song” (their mission statement) would lead them to performing for an international audience—and yet they did! Be sure to keep an eye out for the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir’s next performance this fall.
To find more information about the choir, their upcoming events, or to donate school supplies, visit bhamyyafc.org.
