Everywhere Otis Bryant Jr. goes, he his slips alma mater, Auburn Gresham\u2019s Leo High School, into conversation \u2014 plus one gentle reminder: \u201cPlease vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the past few months, the South Side Catholic school for boys has moved through the ranks of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Got Talent,\u201d from an initial audition<\/a> back in June to a prevailing semifinals performance<\/a> last week. Tuesday night, it all came to a head, as Leo High School\u2019s Choir competed in the \u201cAmerica\u2019s Got Talent\u201d finale, where they battled against nine other acts in the hopes of being crowned the winner of the NBC reality talent show\u2019s 20th season.<\/p>\n Bryant, who now lives in Englewood, watched the performance from inside his former high school. He and about 90 other staunch supporters \u2014 composed of community members, students, staff, alumni and parents \u2014 packed into the school\u2019s auditorium to watch the finale episode.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful,\u201d Bryant said, smiling as he waited for the show to begin. To him, the choir is not only bringing pride to the school, but to the whole city, he said.<\/p>\n Watch party-goers lined cushioned black chairs as the episode aired on a projector screen at the front of the room. Posters donning \u201cLEO\u201d in bold orange letters scattered the space alongside orange, white and gold balloons. Attendees chatted amongst themselves while other acts took the \u201cAGT\u201d stage.<\/p>\n Five acts in, Leo High School was up. The room roared in anticipation. Go time.<\/p>\n With the sound of a drum beat, the choir began to sing The Script\u2019s, \u201cHall of Fame.\u201d<\/p>\n From Leo High, supporters cheered, clapped and belted along.<\/p>\n \u201cBe students, be teachers, be politicians, be preachers,\u201d the choir sang. \u201cBe believers, be leaders, be astronauts, be champions. Standing in the hall of fame.\u201d<\/p>\n The performance earned a standing ovation from judges.<\/p>\n Ultimately, the winning act will be announced Wednesday night in a live results show. Snagging the top spot comes with a $1 million prize.<\/p>\n Speaking with the Tribune over Zoom Monday, choir members exuded an even keeled confidence headed into their final performance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re feeling great as a team, going into the finale with our brothers,\u201d Leo High senior Derrick Davis, 17, said.<\/p>\n The moment they learned they\u2019d be going to the finale was surreal, choir members said, though they were quick to assure they weren\u2019t surprised by the news \u2014 rather, affirmed.<\/p>\n \u201c(With) all of the hard work we put in, all of the dedication that we have put in, I feel like we can come out with a victory,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n Members prepared for their culminating act with six-hour practice days.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a quick pivot, from knowing one song and having to get one song down pat, to (forgetting) about that song (and getting) to do a whole other thing,\u201d 16-year-old Kevin Wilson said. But that\u2019s why they have their choir director, LaDonna Hill, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe plays a big part in getting our mindset in order to be able to take that pivot and focus on a new song,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Support from home has helped, too.<\/p>\n \u201cOh Chicago, Chicago is showing us so much love currently,\u201d Tyshawn Brown, 17, said. \u201cIt\u2019s like we\u2019re doing things that nobody ever dreamed of.\u201d<\/p>\n Wearing a shirt that read \u201cRemember me for centuries\u201d \u2014 an ode to when the choir sang Fall Out Boy\u2019s \u201cCenturies\u201d in last week\u2019s semifinals \u2014 Heather Smith watched a few feet away from the projector screen Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be life-changing for these kids,\u201d the 54-year-old Calumet City resident, whose godson is a freshman at Leo High, said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a memory that enhances their lives forever.\u201d<\/p>\n The finale felt like Christmas to Leo High assistant principal Titus Redmond, he said. If he could give one message to the choir, Redmond would tell members, \u201cYou\u2019ve done it, you\u2019ve represented us well (and) you\u2019ve represented yourselves well.\u201d<\/p>\n Redmond called the choir\u2019s last performance the perfect bookend to their time on \u201cAmerica\u2019s Got Talent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, it\u2019s emotional,\u201d Redmond said, his eyes getting teary. \u201cI love them boys. They told America who we are. Who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n