There aren’t many acts that receive Simon Cowell’s personal invitation to participate on Britain’s Got Talent, but the Voices of Armed Forces Children’s Choir is unique in more ways than one. When Simon deviated from protocol and went to see the children’s choir rehearse in London’s Guard’s Chapel, he was astounded by the stories that the youngsters sang. Simon was spot on; this man has a gift for spotting great talent (and moving stories).
Roughly fifty children, ranging in age from six to eighteen, whose parents are either serving or have served in the military, make up the Voices of Armed Forces Children’s Choir. The choir was established the year prior to their 2022 BGT audition as a component of the Royal British Legion-supported “Never Such Innocence” program. “Encouraging children of service members to express what life is like for them through a range of activities including poetry, art, speech, and song.” That’s what the program’s website says.
The children of heroes in the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force are invited to “reflect on what service life means to them” via this wonderful program. “We hear a lot of people from the services tell their stories, but we never hear the kids tell their story,” Simon Cowell said to the Choir after their incredible audition, solidifying the Choir’s place in Britain’s Got Talent history as one of the most distinctive, moving, and memorable acts.
During a songwriting session at Never Such Innocence, the Voices of Armed Forces Children’s Choir sang an original song composed by one of the choir members, with two scarlet-outfitted Chelsea Pensioners observing from the royal boxes above. Even though it wasn’t a ballad, their pop song “Welcome Home” perfectly encapsulated the pure joy that a child experiences upon hearing their parents’ voices again after a long deployment.
The four judges gave the Choir a standing ovation and four yes votes; the crowd and Amanda Holden were both moved to tears. After that, at the semi-finals, the choir sang another original song, but they didn’t make it to the season fifteen finale.
