Choir’s incredible version of Toto’s Africa leaves crowd on its feet

It’s not every day a choir takes on a 1980s classic, but that’s exactly happened when the Angel City Chorale took to the stage on America’s Got Talent last week.

The group’s audition has gone viral thanks to their stunning rendition of Toto’s ‘Africa’ that knocked the socks off the judges and even earned a standing ovation from the perennially grumpy Simon Cowell.

The Los Angeles choir filled almost every inch of the stage at their audition, with its 145 members standing proud in their best threads – the men in tuxedos and the women in head to toe black.

The group artfully built anticipation before they even opened their mouths, creating the sounds of a rainstorm by clicking their fingers and slapping their hands on their thighs for a convincing effect. Once they did start singing it didn’t take long for the audience to jump to its feet and start clapping along.

Unsurprisingly, the group earned a place in the next round. The choir was founded in 1993 by Sue Fink, who still conducts them today, and has a focus on building community through song. At the beginning of their audition, Fink said she wanted to “bring together people of different backgrounds and build a community where we make something together”.

The aim of the choir, according to Fink, is to unite people from different backgrounds, age groups and political beliefs to come together and enjoy the one thing that doesn’t discriminate: music.

It seems Fink’s messages was heard loud and clear as thousands of commenters left messages of praise and thanks under the video clip of the audition.

“I love it when a community comes together and makes something so beautiful and fantastic that is full of authenticity and diversity!” one person wrote.

“This is amazing,” wrote another. “The community and that everyone is together regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality… could only wish everyone in the world could be like this.”

What did you think of the audition? Do you love this song – the original and the cover?