Watch This Oxford High School Shooting Survivor Audition for ‘America's Got Talent’
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One of the things that keeps us tuning back into America’s Got Talent each week is the amazing people that show up to audition and on Tuesday night, the person that stood out on the AGT stage was 18-year-old Oxford High School grad Ava Swiss, née Swieczkowski.
Ava and her brother Reid were both in school the day that a gunman took four lives at Oxford High and, while still recovering from the tragic shooting, she showed up at America’s Got Talent in hopes that her singing will help people heal.
“I chose the song ‘Remember’ by Lauren Daigle,” Ava told judge Simon Cowell. “I chose this song because back on November 30, my brother and I were part of the Oxford school shooting. We lost four of our students and seven others were injured, one of which was a teacher.”
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When Simon asked her how she was coping following the tragic event, she replied, “It’s been hard. I remember my brother and I were talking, and we said there’s no way we’re ever stepping foot back in the school but we’ve actually been in person in the school for about two months now, so things are getting better.” [Note: This audition was pretaped prior to her graduation.]
Ava continued, “When I sing, I remember the good. I remember my community, my family, the love, and that it’s all there for me, and it will help me get to where I need to be, so that’s why I am so grateful I am able to be here today so I can share it with more people than I ever thought I could.”
When Ava finished her performance of “Remember,” she received a standing ovation from the audience and the judges, who were commenting, “Wow!” and “Amazing.”
“In life, it’s tough to show up especially after going through incredible trauma,” Howie Mandel said. “The fact that you can break through that and shine the way you did today is so inspirational for every human being. You really shine. That was wonderful.”
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Heidi Klum added, “You are incredible. You have pipes and they are so special.”
While Sofia Vergara told her, “It took my breath away. You sound beautiful. I thought the song that you picked was perfect. You were not just singing; you were showing us your feelings and it gave me goose bumps.”
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Then Simon wrapped it up for the judges. “I think you are gutsy,” he said. “I really, really do. To me, this is one of those auditions, I will never forget. I have so much respect for you and, on top of that, you have a great voice. You are somebody I am so happy to have met. The thing with this show is we meet the most extraordinary people every single year and now we’ve met you.”
Needless to say, Ava received four yeses and moves on in the competition.
America’s Got Talent isn’t the first time Ava, who has been singing since she was 2 years old, used her musical gift to help people heal. She sang at the candlelight vigil in her hometown following the school shooting. On that occasion, she performed “Rise up” by Andra Day.
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
