WATCH: Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir wins big on ‘America’s Got Talent’

If you tuned in to Tuesday night’s episode of hit reality talent show America’s Got Talent, you may have noticed a choir’s worth of familiar faces. Local nonprofit Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir wow’d the audience with an emotional performance of ‘Joyful, Joyful Lord We Adore Thee’ and ended the night with a coveted Golden Buzzer—automatically advancing them to the next round.

We spoke with choir director Ahkeem Lee to learn more about the performance and what’s next for the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir.

About the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir

In 2015, three close friends organized a back-to-school concert to help their community. With support from friends, family, citizens and local businesses, the organizers were able to donate 200+ school supply bags to students in Birmingham after its inaugural “Youth ‘N Praise” Back to School Concert.

Thanks to the success of the concert and support from fans, the choir stuck around and officially changed its name to the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir in 2022 to represent its growing membership.

Winning a Golden Buzzer at America’s Got Talent

In 2024, the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir celebrated its ninth anniversary with a “Back to the 90s” concert. One song from the concert—Joy—started circulating on social media, racking up 500K+ views on YouTube and nearly 3 million views on Instagram. The success of the performance encouraged the choir to submit an audition video to America’s Got Talent—they were accepted by the show’s producers.

According to choir director Ahkeem Lee, preparing the choir for its national debut was a massive undertaking. After several months of choreography and rehearsals, a group of 60 Birminghamians traveled to Pasadena, California to participate in America’s Got Talent.

“Going on stage, I actually felt a sense of relief. Looking out into the crowd, I saw nothing but smiling faces from choir members’ parents, strangers and the show’s judges.

I’ll never forget how blown away I was by the choir’s performance that night. It was more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined.”

Ahkeem Lee, Choir Director, Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir

After its emotional performance of ‘Joyful, Joyful Lord We Adore Thee,’ the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir received a coveted Golden Buzzer from judge Simon Cowell—automatically advancing the choir to the next round.

“I was confident that we were going to move forward in the competition because our choir worked so hard and did such a great job on stage—but I did not expect to receive the Golden Buzzer.

It was a shocking and emotional moment; every member of the choir sacrificed something to be a part of this moment—not just at AGT, but over the choir’s 10-year history. It was such a moment of pure emotion that felt incredible.”

Ahkeem Lee, Choir Director, Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir

You can watch the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir’s Golden Buzzer moment below.

Celebrate the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir’s 10th Anniversary Concert on Sunday, July 20

Want to see the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir live? You’re in luck—the choir’s 10th Anniversary Celebration is coming up on Sunday, July 20.

“I’m confident that this will be the best concert we’ve ever had—the choir has been preparing for it as soon as we got back from AGT! The concert will tell the story of the journey we’ve had over the last decade, and I believe that our audience will feel blessed and inspired by the performance.”

Ahkeem Lee, Choir Director, Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir

Just like its inaugural concert in 2015, the 10th Anniversary Celebration will raise funds and supplies for a back-to-school supply drive supporting local students. In addition, any K-12 student attending the concert can receive free school supplies.

You can help support the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir and its mission via tax-deductible donations on PayPal, CashApp ($BYFC2015), Zelle (bhamyyafc@gmail.com) and via checks can be made out to Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship (email info@bhamyyafc.org for the address information).

• What: The Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir’s 10th Anniversary Celebration & Back to School Benefit Concert
• When: Sunday, July 20 at 3:30PM
• Where: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, 1530 Sixth Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Free Admission

What did you think about the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir’s performance on America’s Got Talent? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!