Schools
Leo Choir 'Welcome Home Celebration' at 115 Bourbon Street Saturday at Noon
A Final Four finish in 'America's Got Talent' competition spurs pride among choir, school, alums and community members who voted for Leo.
The Leo Catholic High School Choir will enjoy a Saturday, noon-time victory lap at 115 Bourbon Street, having recovered from its championship pursuit and Final Four finish in NBC’s highly competitive “America’s Got Talent” hit TV show.
Leo Catholic High School and 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park will host a “Welcome Home Celebration” for the Leo Choir Saturday from 12 noon until 3 p.m.
“Our Leo Choir boys embody the spirit of brotherhood, resilience, and excellence that has defined the institution since 1926,” said Dr. Shaka Rawls, Leo’s principal. “Leo’s young men are proud to have represented the South Side of Chicago. They believe that being a member of the Choir gave them the ability to dream even higher.”
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“If this were college basketball, we’d be celebrating,” School President Dan McGrath said. “Every team wants to go to the Final Four, every season, and we just did.”
Choir members have spent recent weeks getting reacclimated to traditional classroom settings, sports teams and home life after alternating weeks on the road with tutors, choreographers, costume fitters and producers while giving it their all in a “once-in-lifetime” experience better suited for paid professional talent.
“Our young men were ready for this experience before it began, and now they are even wiser and mature beyond their years because they embraced the challenge,” said Rawls, who accompanied the group to California.
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“Some of our choir members are off to college and many are back at school ready to lead news choir members in the growth of a new iteration of excellence.”
Open to the public, Saturday’s event will be a joyous celebration with choir members and their families on hand, along with school officials and exclusive video from behind the scenes of the “America’s Got Talent” stage lights.
Leo organizers are providing food and beverages and preparing to host surprise guests. Attendees are asked to help organizers plan with an RSVP at:
https://forms.gle/ANGUEThC5hUANuSx7
The Choir’s talent and energy melted down the icy persona of Simon Cowell, the creator of America’s Got Talent and most influential judge. Cowell’s admiration was evident as he addressed the group in the final days.
“You are going to inspire so many people, and I really mean that,” he said. “You have talent, you have a great work ethic and a great mentor … It’s been a pleasure having you on our stage.”
Accolades from all corners of Chicago rained down on Choir members.
Rappers Common and Justus King sent video messages of encouragement, as did Kevin Byard and Rome Odunze of the Bears and actor LaRoyce Hawkins of Chicago PD. Cardinal Blase Cupich urged Chicago Catholics to get out the vote for Leo, and Mayor Brandon Johnson cited the Choir’s positive impact on the city.
Choir members Keith Smith, Ian Dunn, Joshua Smith, Jessie Howard and the other Class of 2025 graduates are already off to college after accomplishing so much.
Football/Choir teammates Derrick Davis, Blake Moore and Bernard Freeman are back on the field and in good voice in the choir room.
Four-year Choir members Steven Jackson and his twin brother Stephan embrace the new horizon for the choir.
“We had a big platform to essentially change the narrative that not only Black people and Brown people get, but the entire City of Chicago gets,” Steven Jackson said. “There’s more to us than what people may have seen or heard on the news.”
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Leo Catholic High School and 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park will host a Welcome Home Celebration for the Leo Choir Saturday from 12 noon until 3 p.m. Attendees are asked to help organizers plan with an RSVP at:
https://forms.gle/ANGUEThC5hUANuSx7
