'AGT' Season 19: Who is Jerusalem Youth Chorus? Music project aims to do what no politician can
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Jerusalem Youth Chorus, featured on Season 19 of 'America's Got Talent', is a choral and discourse program for Palestinian and Israeli teenagers in Jerusalem. Their objective is to create a space where these young people from East and West Jerusalem may grow together through singing and debate.
They equip adolescents in Jerusalem with the duty to speak and sing their truths as they become leaders in their communities, inspiring singers and listeners all over the world to strive for peace, justice, inclusiveness, and equality via the co-creation of song and storytelling.
AGT's Jerusalem Youth Chorus refuses to pit Arabs and Jews, Israelis and Palestinians, against one another
Jerusalem Youth Chorus envisions a Jerusalem—and a larger Israel-Palestine—that is defined by recognition of a shared connection to place, a celebration of individual and collective belonging to that place, and systems that enable the belonging to be equally realized by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, as well as by Palestinians and Israelis. Instead of being defined by hatred, division, and injustice, occupation, terror, and violence.
They oppose any attempts to set Israelis and Palestinians, or Arabs and Jews, against one another in the name of institutionalized violence that robs them of the ability to even contemplate, much less decide, on an alternative course of action.
AGT's Jerusalem Youth Chorus uses music and dialogue programming to yield both friendship and understanding
With its distinctive blend of music and conversation programming, the Jerusalem Youth Chorus offers its singers a life-changing experience that fosters understanding and camaraderie on both a personal and a community level beyond the boundaries of religion, ethnicity, language, and culture. Beyond only singing together, they explore in further detail each other's identities, experiences, group tales, religious customs, and country histories through conversation, all inside the secure environment of the musical ensemble and the powerful connections and sense of community it fosters.
AGT's Jerusalem Youth Chorus brings together music from East and West
The Jerusalem Youth Chorus aims to musically embody the principles of inclusivity and equality that form our foundation, therefore bringing the idea of beauty in difference to life. The musicians' diverse musical backgrounds mean that they heavily incorporate elements of both East and West into their repertoire and approach.
They therefore aim to push musical limits and innovate, just as they do in the program's nonmusical sections. Check out their music page to experience their distinct sound for yourself.
Jerusalem Youth Chorus of 'AGT' Season 19 meets through wars
The Jerusalem Youth Chorus has created a loving and resilient community. In some ways, the chorus is where the singers feel the safest being themselves, regardless of what is happening outside, thus they meet even during wars and cycles of bloodshed.
The singers take the skills they acquire in JYC and spread them broadly, asking friends, family, and classmates to attend practices and performances. At times, they even openly challenge authorities to view the world differently.
They have played at prestigious locations such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the United Nations in Geneva, and as a featured group at the Yale International Choral Festival. They have also toured Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland. Above all, they play frequently in Jerusalem, collaborating with other groups that support equality, justice, and peace while also reaching out to those who would never have guessed that something like what they do could be feasible, much less beautiful.
AGT's Jerusalem Youth Chorus performed on shows like 'Late Show' and BBC
As a performing group, they want to increase their influence even further by participating in national and international events and being featured in the media. The Jerusalem Youth Chorus has been mentioned in over 100 news outlets, including Haaretz, Alhurra, the New York Times, the BBC, PBS, and the 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert'.
AGT's Jerusalem Youth Chorus collaborated with Sam Tsui
They have recorded in London with Duran Duran and in Jerusalem with multiplatinum Israeli singer and peace campaigner David Broza. Their 'Home' music video, which features YouTube sensation Sam Tsui, went viral and has received over 400,000 views.
Watch the Jerusalem Youth Chorus enthrall the judges with their unique blend of music and harmony on NBC on July 16 at 8 pm ET.