Award Winning Gospel Choir, Sing Harlem to Appear on ‘AGT’
Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC Reading Time: 3 minutes
Sing Harlem choir is among the contestants taking the America’s Got Talent stage during the seventh audition episode. This choir was founded in 2006 by radio personality and producer Vy Higginsen.
New York City’s Award Winning Gospel Choir to Audition for America’s Got Talent
Sing Harlem is no stranger to the New York City music scene. The group has performed at several prestigious venues, programs, and concerts across America including The New York Fashion Week, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, the Grammy Awards, and more. In their time together as a group, they have earned four awards.
Sing Harlem was formed out of Gospel for Teens program and founded in 2006 by Vy Higginsen. Co-creator Ahmaya Knoelle is the group’s current director. Sing Harlem was the break out choir for The Mama Foundation for the Arts school. Since this group began, they have grown to be a highly respected force in the New York gospel scene. According to their Facebook page, Sing Harlem creates “not only great vocalists, but top notch global citizens.”
Sing Harlem’s most recent release “Amazing Grace” dropped on January 17. The group appeared on The Kelly Clarkson show to promote their second single. The group released their first song to streaming in 2012.
It appears that at least 19 singers will appear with this group on the AGT stage. This differs from the groups website, which shares the names and biographies of their 13 members. It seems like their website isn’t up to date at this time. The groups promotional videos feature both their director (Ahmaya Knoelle) and founder (Vy Higginsen), so we’re hoping to learn a bit more about their origins during their America’s Got Talent audition.
Meet The Director, Founder of Sing Harlem
Behind each strong choir is an even stronger director. This group’s director is actress/singer Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson, daughter of Vy Higginsen. According to her social media, she is a music and performance educator, leading lady of Mama, I Want To Sing! She is also the artistic director of Mama Foundation For The Arts. She’s studied at both Manhattan School of Music and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Her mother Vy Higginsen, is a theater producer, playwright, former disc jockey, and radio and television personality native to New York. She created the magazine Unique NY, wrote Mama, I Want to Sing!, founded Harlem Records, and more. During her career, she won a Candace Award for business, ‘Shine A Light’ recognition at the BET Awards, and the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Sing Harlem is performing later this month at the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn event on Saturday, July 30. This choir will sing an opening performance ahead of the screening of the film Fame. Tickets to this event are free, entry is first come first serve.
