- Hello everybody, I'm Satori Shakoor.

Welcome to Detroit Performs Live from Mary Grove, where Detroit's talented artists take the stage, and share insights into their performances.

This episode is all about the Detroit Youth Choir.

They will be performing three fantastic songs.

Get ready for some fun on Detroit Performs Live from Mary Grove.

- [Announcer] Funding for Detroit Performs is provided by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

(upbeat funky music) - Hello everybody, I'm Satori Shakoor.

And welcome to Detroit Performs Live from Mary Grove.

I'm so excited, I'm inspired, I can't wait because we have the Detroit Youth Choir.

I'm sitting here with Mr. Anthony White, who is the artistic director/president... - Hey.

- [Shakoor] Of the Detroit Youth Choir.

- Yes.

- [Shakoor] How many youth are in the choir total?

- [White] I think we're at 125.

- 120.

So, do you perform all 125 or do you have more than one choir?

- Yes, we have three choirs.

We have the Limelight Choir, we have the Center Stage Choir, and we have the Primetime Choir.

- And what is the difference between the three?

'cause they all sound pretty fantastic.

- Well, let's put it like this ahm, the limelight is the beginner, so you're getting an introduction into our organization, and you're learning how we work.

- [Shakoor] Okay, so everybody has to start there.

- Yes, everybody starts there and then you stay there a year or two and then you move up to center stage, which is a premium choir, but they're a little bit shy, you know?

And then you hit primetime.

Primetime is the group that we'll be listening to tonight.

And they are magnificent.

They are the face of the organization.

So when you see DYC, you're gonna see Primetime.

- [Shakoor] And what are the requirements to become a member of the Detroit Youth Choir?

- You have to be between eight and 18.

You just have to have a ear, and a love, and a desire to perform.

You might not be the cream of the crop.

If you're not the cream of the crop, that's fine.

We'll take you and build you up to that standard.

I know all of our kids is not gonna be singers.

But we teach them the fundamentals of life through music.

And, if I can touch at least a group of them and if they learn from me, that's all my thanks, that's the thanks that I need.

- What songs are we gonna hear this evening?

- You're gonna hear our DYC mash-up.

You're also gonna hear "This is Me".

It's a brand new arrangement of that, I just heard it really, and I thought that our choir sound beautiful doing it.

And we are going to end with "Wade in the Water" with one of our great soloists from the Detroit Youth Choir.

- All right, ladies and gentlemen.

Well sit back, relax.

We're headed to the stage.

Be in the presence of this gifted concert choir, the Detroit Youth Choir.

Thank you Mr. Anthony White.

- Thank you so much.

(piano music) ♪ One day, when the glory comes ♪ ♪ It will be ours, it will be ours ♪ ♪ Oh, one day, when the war is won ♪ ♪ We will be sure, we will be sure ♪ ♪ Something must be done as soon as possible ♪ ♪ And if we come together, we're unstoppable ♪ ♪ If you wear white, yellow, green or blue ♪ ♪ This isn't just our fight, nah, it's yours too ♪ ♪ Born being enslaved like my ancestors ♪ ♪ It's time that we expose the country's transgressions ♪ ♪ We the future, not the past ♪ ♪ It's time to steal the present ♪ ♪ Unity is what we wish ♪ ♪ Is forever be present, we doin'''' ♪ ♪ Protests, rallies, and more!

♪ ♪ The bigger we are in numbers, yeah we can even the score.

♪ ♪ The year is 2022, so let me make that clear, ♪ ♪ This is the last generation they mess with with fear.

♪ ♪ And when we get old, the stories will be on repeat, ♪ ♪ Fighting for our rights and messes ♪ ♪ Trying to keep six feet ♪ ♪ From my hands and yours, we get our justice and peace.

♪ ♪ Fist up, it's time to come together on our own streets.

♪ ♪ One day, when the glory comes ♪ ♪ It'll be ours, it'll be ours ♪ ♪ Oh, one day, ♪ ♪ when the war is won ♪ ♪ We will be strong, we will be strong ♪ ♪ Glory ♪ ♪ For the pride and glory ♪ ♪ Oh glory ♪ ♪ Oh glory ♪ ♪ Say glory ♪ ♪ Glory, glory ♪ ♪ Can we go back, this is our moment ♪ ♪ Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over ♪ ♪ So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us ♪ ♪ Like the ceiling can't hold ♪ ♪ Us ♪ ♪ DYC, you know what it is, what it does ♪ ♪ What it is, what it isn't ♪ ♪ Looking for a better way to get up out of bed ♪ ♪ Instead of getting on the internet ♪ ♪ And checking on who hit me ♪ ♪ We up, hey ♪ ♪ Look!

Somewhere between like Rocky and Cosby ♪ ♪ Sweater game, nope nope y'all can't copy that ♪ ♪ Yeah, bad, moon walking, this here is our party ♪ ♪ My posse's been on Broadway, and we did it our way ♪ ♪ Grown music, I shed my skin and put my bones ♪ ♪ Into everything I record and yet yet we on ♪ ♪ Trust me, on my I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T, we hustling' ♪ ♪ Chasing dreams since I was 14 ♪ ♪ With the four-track, bussin' ♪ ♪ Halfway cross that city with the backpack ♪ ♪ Fat cat crushing ♪ ♪ Can we go back?

This is our moment ♪ ♪ Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over ♪ ♪ So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us ♪ ♪ Like the ceiling can't hold, ♪ ♪ Hold, ♪ ♪ Hold, hold.

♪ ♪ This is our moment ♪ ♪ Stay up on that rise, stay up on that rise ♪ ♪ Never come down, whoa oh ♪ ♪ Stay up on that rise, stay up on that rise ♪ ♪ Never come down, oh ♪ ♪ DYC, we changing history, ♪ ♪ Back when (indistinct) take it the same ♪ ♪ 'Bout to deal with the reciprocal.

♪ ♪ We thank you for the blessings.

♪ ♪ And ain't no second guessing!

♪ ♪ DYC gon' get to steppin' ♪ ♪ Oh oh, mama said ♪ ♪ Oh oh, mama said ♪ ♪ Oh oh, mama said ♪ ♪ Oh oh, mama said ♪ ♪ Oh oh, mama said ♪ ♪ Oh oh, mama said ♪ ♪ High high hopes ♪ ♪ High high hopes ♪ ♪ High high hopes ♪ ♪ High high hopes ♪ ♪ Had to have high high hopes ♪ ♪ For a living ♪ ♪ Shooting for the stars ♪ ♪ When I couldn't make a killing ♪ ♪ Didn't have a dime but I always had a vision ♪ ♪ Always had high high hopes ♪ ♪ I've been waiting my whole life ♪ ♪ To see my name in the lights ♪ ♪ I am invincible, unbreakable, ♪ ♪ Unstoppable, unshakeable ♪ ♪ They knock me down ♪ ♪ I get up again ♪ ♪ I am the champion ♪ ♪ You're gonna know my name ♪ ♪ Can't hurt me now ♪ ♪ Can't feel the pain ♪ ♪ I was made for this ♪ ♪ Yeah, I was born to win ♪ ♪ I am the champion ♪ ♪ I am, I am, I am ♪ ♪ The champion ♪ ♪ I am, I am, I am ♪ ♪ I am, I'm the champion ♪ ♪ I am, I am, I am ♪ ♪ I'm the champion ♪ ♪ I am, I am, I am, I am ♪ ♪ I am the champion ♪ - Well, we're just coming back from the stage after watching and listening to the Detroit Youth Choir.

And I'm sitting here with soprano Cydney Armwood.

When did you join the Detroit Youth Choir?

- I joined the year after AGT, and then when I auditioned I got really nervous.

And then I got the call saying that I got in.

And I was like, "oh my God I'm so excited!".

And I'm just really excited to be in the Detroit Youth Choir.

The real reason why I always wanted to start performing was because when I see like stars on stage like Beyonce or other icons like that, I just look at them and they're just like, they're inspiring so many people.

And then like one day, if I'm younger or older I want to inspire other people.

Like youth, like adults.

I want to inspire them and I want to motivate them that they can do anything.

- Well, I think, I think you're already inspiring and motivating people just by watching you guys and and tell me about Mr. White.

- Mr. White has been a big part of my life.

When I joined the Detroit Youth Choir.

He said I have outstanding energy.

And I know that like, when he pushes us hard that means we need to work harder.

And I really like that about Mr. White.

And also he's just fun to be around, fun to talk to like he can talk to him about anything.

He'll be like, oh, that's great.

Oh, that's cool.

And Mr. White is just a big inspiration.

And I think further in my career he'll always be my big inspiration.

- Now, is there anything you wanna say before to tell our audience anything that you haven't said?

- [Armwood] I just wanna let you know that you can push through that and you can do anything you want in the world and always be happy.

- See what the future looks like, everybody.

This is the future.

Well, thank you so much, Sydney.

- Thank you.

- So guess what?

We're going back to the stage to hear more from the Detroit Youth Choir.

♪ I'm not a stranger to the dark ♪ ♪ Hide away, they say ♪ ♪ 'Cause we don't want your broken parts ♪ ♪ You can put your mind to do whatever you wanna do ♪ ♪ Just tell yourself that you're capable to ♪ ♪ But don't do things that ain't even cool ♪ ♪ And get rid of them ♪ ♪ No good friends that's enabling you ♪ ♪ Making you feel like you won't be nothing.

♪ ♪ Your life crumbling.

♪ ♪ They talk mumbling.

♪ ♪ You gonna be something.

♪ ♪ You are glorious.

♪ ♪ We're no games with warriors ♪ ♪ We will no notorious.

♪ ♪ They can't stop you or block you or mock you.

♪ ♪ They mad cuz you better, they not you ♪ ♪ You fall down but get up and skip and hop through ♪ ♪ Kick down doors for others to walk through ♪ ♪ You have a purpose to make you say, did I do that?

♪ ♪ Or now we call a reality virtue.

♪ ♪ This is who I am.

♪ ♪ This is me.

Don't let the words hurt you ♪ ♪ When the sharpest words wanna cut me down ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out ♪ ♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪ ♪ I am who I'm meant to be, this is me ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪ ♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪ ♪ I make no apologies, this is me ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-Oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-Oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-Oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-Oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Another round of bullets hits my skin ♪ ♪ So fire away ♪ ♪ 'Cause today, I won't let the shame sink in ♪ ♪ We are bursting through the barricades ♪ ♪ And reaching for the sky ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Yeah, that's what we've become ♪ ♪ I won't let them break me down to dust ♪ ♪ I know that there's a place for us ♪ ♪ For we are glorious ♪ ♪ When the sharpest words wanna cut me down ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out ♪ ♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪ ♪ I am who I'm meant to be, this is me ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪ ♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪ ♪ I make no apologies, this is me ♪ ♪ I'm my own ♪ ♪ I've never been the mode ♪ ♪ The world is so cold holding down on my own.

♪ ♪ I'm just trying to reach up to the sky see them all ♪ ♪ I got caught with this cuz I'm the Flos ♪ ♪ In the room and I been back down, but I always get up.

♪ ♪ I had some fake friends had to switch up.

♪ ♪ Yeah, no pain, no strain ♪ ♪ (speaker rapping) ♪ ♪ I'm not weak, I get on my feet.

♪ ♪ No apologies yet, this is me ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-Oh ♪ ♪ And I know that I do your love ♪ ♪ There's nothing I'm not worthy of ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ When the sharpest words wanna cut me down ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out ♪ ♪ This is brave, this is bruised ♪ ♪ This is who I'm meant to be, this is me ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪ ♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪ ♪ I make no apologies, this is me ♪ ♪ Whenever the pride guides ♪ ♪ ♪ Whenever the pride guides ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood ♪ ♪ I'm gonna drown 'em out ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ - We're just coming back from another powerful performance by the Detroit Youth Choir, "This is me".

- This is you.

- Yes.

- [Shakoor] This Ava.

- Yes.

- Ava Campbell.

So how long have you been singing with the Detroit Youth Choir?

- I've been singing since my freshman year.

So this would've been my third year right now.

- Your third year.

So what is the value that you give and that you receive from being in the Detroit Youth Choir?

- I think the value that I give and that all my choir members give is our youthfulness.

I think a lot of times people undermine the youth, especially in Detroit.

And I think that showing our strong voices and showing that we're confident and that we love to sing something that obviously gets underplayed as well the arts a lot in Detroit I think that shows a very strong power within all of us.

And I think the choir gives us patience.

It gives us a very strong and determined mindset.

I think that the choir also helps us with just being focused, cuz being a performer you have to be focused.

You have to stay on your game all the time.

And people expect so many things from you and the choir really helps us balance that.

- And what do you find when you're blending your voice with a group of voices, all singing the same thing?

- I think that working in a choir, there's a lot of teamwork involved as well.

So I think that when our voices blend together, it shows that we're really working hard and we really communicate well with each other - [Shakoor] And, and working together like that, blending your voices, having teamwork.

Does that translate to other areas of your life?

- Yes, it does.

- How?

- Mmm, teamwork will obviously once we finish and graduate high school, we're going to be working a lot with other people that we don't know or maybe not even like.

And I do think that the choir helps us with that.

- [Shakoor] So he's, he's developing a lot of skills, social skills?

- [Ava] Yes.

Not just singing, but like people skills.

Honestly, I wouldn't be able to do this interview like a couple years ago.

I'm gonna be honest because I just wasn't that open.

And until I got in the choir and I got with Mr. White and all of our wonderful staff, I really opened up.

- All right, all right.

All right.

Well we can't wait to go back into the theater and hear "Wade in the water" by the Detroit Youth Choir.

(choir singing) ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water children ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ God said he's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water children ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ All the children gonna ♪ ♪ See that band all dressed in white ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ The little look like a band of the Israelites ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water children ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water children ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ See that band all dressed in red ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Well it looks like the band that Moses led ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water children ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water children ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ God's gonna trouble, trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ ♪ I'm gonna trouble the water ♪ ♪ Wade in the water ♪ - We're just coming back from "Wade in the water" by the Detroit Youth Choir.

And I'm sitting here now with Mark Bonney.

He's a tennor bass with the choir.

What's your experience singing with the Detroit Youth Choir?

- My experience has been great.

Let alone a wide variety of overexposure to other events, artists, companies, businesses.

Is such a great experience to me personally cuz I know I want to get into the business world when I graduate high school, it's such a great group of people, my age, even better to hang around.

Cool it, kick it, even sometimes outside of DYC.

And I enjoy it a lot.

- [Shakoor] I love the energy of all of you that I've met so far, so does it gives you energy and you giving energy in that, in that singing it.

- Oh yes, I personally feel when we perform, we vibe a off of each other.

Like our energy meshes.

It goes up more depending on the song or the choreography, whatever it is.

I feel like we feed off of each other's energies - And "Wade in the water" is such a, so much a part of American history.

When you approach a piece of music, a new piece of music how do you come to that music?

And do you see the growth?

Not only in yourself but in all of your blended voices over time?

- Well, when we approach new music, me personally I don't like to try to get the sense or backstory of the music.

Try to get the feeling okay.

How are we supposed to sing this?

How is it supposed to come off?

I try to look at the lyric and see if I can get it from there.

The melody or tone of the music and see, okay how are we gonna perform this?

How is our expression supposed to be?

How are feelings supposed to be shown?

- [Mark] What has Mr. White given you?

- He brings out the best in people in most ways more than one.

He empowers us.

He pushes us to be our best.

He encourages us.

He wants the best for us.

The thing I feel Mr. White wants to give to Detroit is it's all about the youth and Mr. White gives us that chance to express our voices to the community.

- Thank you so much, Mark Bonnie, thank you for being here and lending your gifts and talents and letting Detroit know all about the Detroit Youth Choir.

- Yes.

- Well that's the end of our show.

That's the end of our concert, regrettably.

But come on back next week to Detroit performs live from Mary Grove.

I'm your host at Satori Shakoor is gonna point to - [Announcer] Funding for Detroit Performs is provided by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Eber Family Foundation.

The Kresge Foundation, the A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the arts, the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation.

And by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.