Oxford High School shooting survivor stuns ‘AGT’ judges with emotional audition: ‘It’s been hard’

It was an audition that Simon Cowell said he’d never forget, and if you tuned into Tuesday night’s episode of America’s Got Talent, it was one performance that probably stuck with you long after the show ended.

Ava Swieczkowski, Ava Swiss as she goes by, performed a moving rendition of contemporary Christian artist Lauren Daigle’s “Remember.”

“I chose this song because back on November 30th, my brother and I were a part of the Oxford school shooting. We lost four of our students and seven others were injured, one of which was a teacher.”

The episode, which aired on July 26, was filmed after the shooting but before school ended.

After explaining why she chose her song, Cowell asked the 18-year-old how she was coping with being the survivor of a school shooting.

“It’s been hard. I remember my brother and I, we said there was no way we were stepping foot back in the school, but we’ve actually been in person for two months now so things are getting better,” she said.

“When I sing, I remember the good. I remember my community, my family, just the love and I remember that it’s all there for me. It’ll help me get to where I need to be. So, that’s why I’m so grateful I’m able to be here today and I can share it with more people than I ever thought I could.”

The teenager put on a stunning performance which resulted in a standing ovation not only from the audience, but from the judges as well

When it came time to vote, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel all gave an enthusiastic yes, sending Swiss into the next round.

“In life, it’s tough to show up, especially after going through incredible trauma. The fact that you can break through that and shine the way you did today is so inspirational,” Mandel told Swiss.

Following the November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School, Swiss performed at a candlelight vigil. She also had the opportunity to sing the national anthem at a Detroit Pistons game, and in March she performed the national anthem before Oakland County Executive David Coulter’s State of the County speech.

Ava’s performance was absolutely beautiful, and I love how she uses music and her voice to work through extremely difficult moments. I hope she goes far in the competition.