Leo Choir Boys Headed Back to L.A.

By Dan McGrath

A weary but elated group of singers – and, most recently, dancers – were back in class at Leo High School on Friday, happy to recount a show-stopping performance that lifted the world-renowned Leo Choir into the semifinal round of “America’s Got Talent.”

Adding live-wire choreography to their skill set, the Choir put on a rousing, live cover performance of “Believer,” by Imagine Dragons, in the show’s quarterfinals on Tuesday, August 26. The effort captivated the AGT judges and gained enough votes from NBC Television viewers nationwide to propel the Choir into the talent-discovery program’s semifinals.

“Honestly, it feels surreal,” senior Stephen Jackson said. “I feel like I’m a celebrity.”

The feeling will intensify if the Choir keeps advancing. They’ll head back to California on Sunday, Sept. 8 for another week of preparation before the semifinals air live on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

“In the words of the late, great Jim Valvano, ‘Survive and advance,’ “ Leo President Dan McGrath said after attending a quarterfinals watch party at Leo. “In the 15 years I’ve been at Leo, we’ve never had anything come close to this level of excitement. We’re very proud of the boys, Mrs. Hill, Dr. Rawls, Mrs. Horton – everybody who’s been involved.”

Results of quarterfinal competition were announced during an August 27 AGT telecast. Early on, the Lions were informed that they were “safe,” having placed within the top five of the 10 acts who had performed the night before.

A “Golden Buzzer” from one of the judges would have sent the Lions onto the finals automatically, but judge Mel B., a former Spice Girl, awarded her Golden Buzzer to Mama Duke, a jazz, soul and hip-hop singer from Austin, Texas.

So the Choir had to wait until the final few minutes of the one-hour telecast to learn that they’d had been voted into the semifinals, joining Bay Melnick Virgolino, a 10-year-old music prodigy from New York, and Unreal, a high-energy dance troupe from India.

Leo, Virgolino and Unreal will be among 12 acts competing in the semifinals. Jourdan Blue, Lightwire and Sirca Mare advanced last week, and the remaining six will be determined over the next two weeks of competition.

The finals will be held and carried live on NBC Sept. 23-24.

“Amazing. Just amazing,” Mrs. Hill said as her impending retirement remained on hold due to the Choir’s success. “It goes to show what can happen if you work hard and believe in yourself.”

Imaginative choreography was a wrinkle the Choir added in preshow preparations. Blake Moore and Derrick Davis punctuated the routine with back flips.

“We had to bring that big boom to the big stage,” Moore said.

With two trips to California behind them and a third coming up shortly, the singers are becoming seasoned travelers … but not tourists.

“These are business trips,” Dr. Rawls said. “The boys bring their laptops and attend classes remotely so they can keep up with their schoolwork. Then they put in long hours of hard work to prepare for the show. They’re not just representing themselves and their families and Leo, they’re representing the South Side of Chicago. We want to emphasize the importance of that.”

Leo High School Boys Choir Advances On ‘America’s Got Talent’

Leo High School Boys Choir Advances On ‘America’s Got Talent’: the Leo High School choir from Auburn Gresham secured enough votes Wednesday night to advance to the semifinals.

By Leen Yassine

August 28, 2025

AUBURN GRESHAM — A South Side high school choir is advancing to the semifinals on “America’s Got Talent” after securing enough votes from the public Wednesday night.

The Leo High School all-boys choir performed “Believer” by Imagine Dragons in the quarterfinals Tuesday night. The song was chosen by the choir and show producers, said Choir Director LaDonna Hill.

The performance left an impression on the judges — and on America, as viewers voted to get the boys to the semifinals.

“You guys have been one of the best things I’ve seen tonight,” actress and judge Sofia Vergara said after Tuesday’s live performance. “What a gift. … We can tell that you’ve worked so hard. Congratulations.”

Spice Girls singer Mel B said the choir “just lit up this whole entire place,” and she would have used her golden buzzer on them if she hadn’t used it already. On the show, each judge can use one golden buzzer button to send acts straight to the live shows, bypassing the chance they’ll be eliminated.

Simon Cowell — who said he had a “really good feeling” about the choir — was also impressed by Hill, who retired this year after 25 years at Leo High School. The choir director stood by the judges table leading and cheering on the boys as they danced and sang on stage.

“Everyone in life, I believe, does need a mentor,” Cowell said. “This is what this show is all about.”

While awaiting voting Wednesday in Pasadena, California — a long way from the boys’ usual stage at their Catholic high school in Auburn Gresham — Hill told Block Club she’s feeling “a burst” of joy and gratitude for what the 18-member choir has been able to accomplish together.

“I woke up this morning feeling so pleased, and this great sense of joy,” she said. “Also an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the young men and them respecting and loving and trusting me to lead them through this process and their career at Leo [High School]. … I have just all of these emotions this morning, of gratitude and joy and pride.”

Hill’s also thankful for the parents, the Leo High School community and her “own personal community and village,” she said.

“I also felt that America will see really what hard work looks like,” she said. “It took so much hard work, just collectively. … Being open to work together as a team, staying focused, just the things that we talk about so much in school.”

As Hill and the boys awaited voting results Wednesday, she said she felt at peace. It’s all about embracing the work, she said.

“My father was a pastor and used to preach a sermon and kind of got famous for it. … He was a former cotton picker, and so I know about hard work and embracing it, and I’ve learned to love it. It doesn’t scare me; it motivates me,” she said.

While none of the boys in the choir are trained singers, Hill “embraced what they gave her” and worked with them. “It’s what you see, and that’s where the tears really come from. Just the overwhelming sense of pride and respect for them, for the students,” Hill said. “A lot of times, they say the teachers inspire the students. … I certainly attempt to do that, but I’ve also experienced the students inspiring me.”

Since auditioning in March, the boys have been dedicated to their twice-weekly rehearsals and a variety of other shows in Chicago, including a ceremony for the new pope and a Wrigley Field performance, Hill said. While the boys are loved in Chicago, “America’s Got Talent” noticed them and sent them a message last year.

“We had caught their attention, and they had their eyes on us. And so basically, from that point, my first initial Zoom [call] happened in November of last year, and it became intense from that point on,” Hill said. “A lot of hard work, meeting with them and meeting deadlines.”

While Hill and the boys “want to win it,” she also just hopes to shine a spotlight on Chicago.

“I love my city, homegrown in Chicago,” she said. “To the entire city, to the mayor and his support, to our city councilmen … I want them to know we love and appreciate them for their support. And we’re doing this for our city. We want people to remember that there is still good coming out of our community, and this is a reminder.”

A Memorable Night for Leo, “Dr. Stanks”

Leo High School Graduation – A Ceremony Unlike Any Other

By Dan McGrath

The ceremony was as enjoyable as the Mother’s Day weather, and that’s saying something. 

Clear, sunny skies and warm, gentle breezes made for a perfect setting for Leo High School’s 95th commencement exercise, held at St. Margaret of Scotland Church on Sunday, May 12 – Mother’s Day, in keeping with a longstanding Leo tradition.

Mothers are always part of the show at a Leo graduation, and this year’s – recognizing the Class of 2024 – was no exception. Mr. Titus Redmond had his Senior English classes prepare Mother’s Day-themed poems, framed copies of which the graduates presented to their moms during the ceremony. 

Kendall Alexander lost his mother to a sudden illness earlier in the school year, so the poems presentation was emotionally taxing for him. Credit the Leo Family, represented by the Dr. Shaka Rawls Family, with a gracious intervention.

Principal Rawls took the microphone to announce he was “adopting” Kendall as his brother and would share his mother with him. Whereupon Shaka’s mom, Dr. Andre Rawls, joined Kendall at the front of the church and happily accepted the assignment with a heartfelt embrace.

“We pride ourselves on being a family at Leo, and families support each other and look out for each other in good times and bad,” Principal Rawls said.

Indeed. 

If it was their last official function as Leo students, Everardo Santana and Theauntae Jones worked overtime.

Santana, who is headed for UIC, delivered the valedictorian address as the top-ranked student in the graduating class. Redmond selected Santana and Jones to read their Mother’s Day poems to the packed-church audience. Jones, who will attend Knox College in Galesburg, led the world-renowned Leo Choir in an emotional tribute song to mothers, and each walked off with two of the 10 “outstanding achievement” medals awarded to the class: Santana for English and science; Jones for music and leadership.

Santana and salutatorian Garry Brown, who is headed for Culver-Stockton College, used their remarks to extend gratitude to their parents, and to the teachers, coaches and administrators who helped make their four years at Leo a meaningful, enjoyable experience.

Principal Rawls praised the class for its perseverance in overcoming pandemic challenges that included spending much of freshman year doing remote learning.   

President Dan McGrath urged the graduates to go out into the world “and make us proud.”

“I know you can, and I know you will,” McGrath said. 

As is the case with all Leo events, the ceremony ended with a rousing edition of the Leo Fight Song, with the newest Leo alums joined by dozens of others in the house.

Leo High School graduation – a ceremony unlike any other.   

And a special day for a special place.

The Outstanding Achievement Awards for the Class of 2024:

* The William J. Koloseike gold medal for athletics: Joshua Burke

* The Bishop John R. Gorman gold medal for religion: Justin Thompson

* The Michael L. Thompson gold medal for music: Theauntae Jones

* The Donald F. Flynn gold medal for history: Jaylen Hopewell

* The Dr. James A. Ahern gold medal for science: Everardo Santana

* The Thomas and Mary Owens gold medal for mathematics: Joshua Ball

* The Stafford L. Hood gold medal for English: Everardo Santana

* The Br. James Glos gold medal for foreign language: Isaac Hall

* The Frank W. Considine gold medal for social justice: Kam’ron Colbert

* The Andrew J. McKenna gold medal for leadership: Theauntae Jones

Dr. Rawls, Keynote Speaker at UIC’s Black Excellence Ceremony

By Dan McGrath

It was a UIC production, but Leo High School stole the show.

More specifically, Dr. Shaka Rawls stole the show.

Leo’s Principal not only received his doctorate in Urban Educational Policy from the University of Illinois-Chicago on Saturday, May 4, he was the keynote speaker at the university’s Black Excellence ceremony recognizing African-American graduates of distinction from close to a dozen degree-granting UIC schools.  

The world-renowned Leo Choir performed flawlessly, drawing standing ovations after each of its three songs from the Leo-dominated audience at the UIC Forum. 

UIC’s Chancellor, Dr. Marie Lynn Miranda, said the soul-stirring music reminded her of the cultural anthropology research she did on southern churches and their role in the communities they served while she was an undergrad at Duke and a graduate student at Harvard.  

Dr. Rawls acknowledged that his doctorate was several years in the making; the demands of the job he holds at Leo no doubt prevented him from finishing sooner. As he has since completing his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Rawls cited the Leo student body as his inspiration for attaining this lofty academic goal.

“I want our boys to see that someone who looks like them, someone who comes from where they come from, is capable of achieving  at this level no matter the obstacles society places in front of them,” Dr. Rawls said.

“Gentlemen, this is for you.”

Dozens of friends, family members and supporters from Leo, UIC, the Big Shoulders Fund and other phases of Dr. Rawls’ life feted him at a university-sponsored reception following the ceremony. The celebration continued into the next day with a reception at Leo that drew 200 well-wishers.

Samira Rawls, Shaka’s 14-year-old daughter, MC’d the party. Leo President Dan McGrath was among the speakers.

“Shaka might tell you that not everything Coach Holmes and I told him when we were recruiting him to Leo was the gospel truth,” McGrath said. “In fact, we might have embellished a bit. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. 

“Today our enrollment is at a 20-year high. We’re current on our bills, with a couple of dollars left over. Leo enjoys a remarkably high profile for a school its size, and Shaka’s role in all this cannot be overstated. 

“We could not have asked for a better principal. We are tremendously proud of Dr. Rawls, and we congratulate him on this monumental achievement. It’s a great day for Shaka Rawls and a great day for Leo.” 

Ray Siegel Receives the Andy McKenna Leo Legacy Award

By Dan McGrath

The eighth annual Leo Scholarship Benefit was one of our school’s most festive … and successful.

A capacity crowd of 300 packed the Grand Ballroom of the Four Seasons Downtown on Wednesday, Nov. 29 to honor Ray Siegel ’65 and to beef up the Leo Scholarship Fund, on which there is more demand than ever as a result of this year’s substantial enrollment increase.

In terms of star power, the world-renowned Leo Choir, under the direction of Mrs. LaDonna Hill, performed three songs. Lourdes Duarte, from WGN-TV, did such a masterful job as MC that there was talk of offering her the permanent position. Father Tom Hurley, a good friend to the Siegel family as well as to Leo, offered the invocation.

Ray Siegel is the eighth Leo Scholarship Benefit honoree, but the first to receive the Andy McKenna Leo Legacy Award. The name change was made to honor Andy McKenna ’47, the first recipient, who died in February 2023 after a lifetime of service to others, including decades of strong support for Leo.

“Ray is ideal for this award because he truly emulates Andy in his selfless commitment to Leo and the Leo Mission,” School President Dan McGrath said. “It is our honor to honor him.”

Several McKenna grandchildren filled a table as Andy’s spirit permeated the room. Bobby Sullivan wore the Leo sweater Andy had been presented as the 2016 honoree. He joined Bill Conlon ’63 (2017) Bob Sheehy ’71 (2019) Mike Holmes ’76 (2020) and Joe Power ’70 (2022) in the sweater presentation to Ray Siegel, after the five former Lion football stars reminisced about their days at Leo and recounted what the school has meant to them over the years.

Mr. Siegel explained his commitment to Leo in a video, stating that he was inspired to do more by a speech he heard Principal Shaka Rawls give in his first year at Leo. Another video featured senior Theauntae Jones and the two-hour daily commute he endures from the West Side so he can attend Leo, “where I belong.”

Principal Rawls gave a typically high-spirited speech about the enrollment increase being symbolic of Leo’s upward trajectory.

“We’re the fastest growing school in the city,” he proclaimed, “and we’re only getting started.”

Mr. Rawls then brought seniors Zion Cornell and Roosevelt Nelson and juniors Lordan Black and Ian Dunn to the stage for a wide-ranging discussion of Leo today. Dunn got a laugh when he acknowledged Mr. Rawls as his favorite teacher/administrator, then added, “He told me to say that.”

With all proceeds earmarked for the Leo Scholarship Fund, the event was expected to clear $500,000 after expenses.

“Just a great night for Leo,” Mr. Rawls said.

Graduation Day 2023

By Dan McGrath

The weather was cool, damp and threatening, but it couldn’t dim the spirit in and around the church as Leo High School held its 94th commencement celebration for the Class of 2023 at St. Margaret of Scotland on Sunday, May 14 – Mother’s Day.

Forty-two seniors received diplomas before a packed house of family, friends and relatives. The sheer joy and exultation that greeted the announcement of each graduate’s name was a reminder of what a truly special occasion this was.

Mrs. Tiffany Harston, Leo’s guidance counselor, did a splendid job as MC for the program. President Dan McGrath and Principal Shaka Rawls commended the class for dealing with COVID’s many challenges as effectively as they did in making it through to graduation. The world-renowned Leo Choir performed. Each senior presented his mother with a Mother’s Day poem he had composed as a Senior English writing project for Mr. Redmond’s class.

But, in an unusual twist,  the highlight of the day was the speeches.

Matthew Hernandez displayed the poise and confidence he said he was grateful for acquiring during his Leo journey, one that saw him become an honor student, class Salutatorian, National Honor Society member and all-conference baseball player.

Esai Jacinto said he never would have had the nerve to deliver a speech to a packed house when he entered Leo as a nervous little freshman, not knowing anyone and not sure he belonged. But he not only was accepted, he was challenged to become all he could be at Leo: Valedictorian, honor roll, National Honor Society, varsity wrestler, four-year baseball starter. 

Esai grew emotional as he thanked his family, his friends, his teachers, his classmates and his coaches—especially Coach Mike Anderson—for helping him find the path to success at Leo. Several people were seen dabbing at their eyes as he went down the list.

In an amazing display of personal connection, Principal Rawls used his speech to recall an interaction or an anecdote about each senior in the graduating class. Nothing pro forma; every message was personalized to let the young man know he’d been recognized and appreciated as a Leo student.

“And now you’re going out into the world as a Leo Man,” Mr. Rawls said. “Make us proud.”

Jacinto and Tim Durr took home two gold medals apiece as Senior Award recipients. The complete list:

• William J. Koloseike Gold Medal for Athletics: Kevin Jackson
• Bishop John R. Gorman Gold Medal for Religion: Jonathan Agee
• Michael L. Thompson Gold Medal for Music: Timothy Durr
• Donald F. Flynn Gold Medal for History: Matthew Hernandez
• Dr. James J. Ahern Gold Medal for Science: Timothy Durr
• Thomas and Mary Owens Gold Medal for Mathematics: Thomas Sims
• Stafford L. Hood Gold Medal for English: Esai Jacinto
• Br. James Glos Gold Medal for Foreign Language: Dorion Woods
• Frank W. Considine Gold Medal for Social Justice: Christopher Robinson
• Andrew J. McKenna Gold Medal for Leadership: Esai Jacinto 

Congratulations to all the members of the Class of 2023 and their families.

And many thanks to the faculty, staff and parent volunteers who put together a spectacular day for Leo.

We’ll do it again next year … and for many years to come.  

We Are Proud of Our 2022 Graduates

Sunday, May 8 was a festive, joyous day to remember for Leo High School’s graduating class of 2022, as well as their mothers as Leo upheld a longstanding tradition of graduating on Mother’s Day before a full house at St. Margaret of Scotland Church.

It was an especially festive and joyous day for two standout members of the class, whose many contributions over four years were acknowledged and honored.

In his Valedictorian address, Cameron Cleveland cited the obstacles he and his classmates overcame to reach graduation in the midst of a COVID pandemic that affected every aspect of their high school careers. Classroom success, basketball triumphs, community-boosting service projects … all seemed even more meaningful, having been achieved against a COVID backdrop that disrupted so many lives in so many ways.

Ranked No. 1 in his class for each of his four years at Leo, Cleveland earned the Valedictorian designation for finishing with the highest GPA within the Class of 2022. Befitting the two-year captain of Leo’s Catholic League championship basketball team, he also received the William J. Koloseike Gold Medal for Athletics, as well as the Thomas and Mary Owens Gold Medal for Excellence in Mathematics and the Andrew J. McKenna Gold Medal for Leadership Initiatives.

Cleveland is headed for Morehouse College in Atlanta on an academic scholarship.

Oliver Brown Jr. —known as PJ around Leo—was the Class of 2022 Salutatorian by a razor-thin margin. He echoed Cleveland in noting that COVID-induced challenges brought his classmates closer and gave them a greater appreciation of high school experiences they might otherwise have taken for granted or even missed altogether.

Brown, who as “PJ the Deejay” was the MC for numerous Leo events over his four years, also received the Stafford L. Hood Gold Medal for Excellence in English and the Frank W. Considine Gold Medal for Social Justice. He is headed for Southern University in Baton Rouge, La,., on scholarship for baseball and academics.

Mother’s Day set a delightful tone for the ceremony. In one highlight, each graduate presented his mom with a framed copy of a Mother’s Day poem he had written to complete his Senior English project for Mr. Titus Redmond’s class.The world-renowned Leo Choir’s four-song set featured stirring solos by senior Robert Smith (“It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye”) and sophomore Theauntae Jones (“See You Again”), as well as a lively rendition of “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” that brought the crowd to its feet to join in.

And in a speech that encapsulated the last four years, Principal Shaka Rawls reminded the graduates that the resolve they displayed in committing to their education as COVID upended their lives would serve them well as they move forward in life … as true Leo Men.

The complete list of honorees from the Class of 2022:

The William J. Koloseike Gold Medal for Athletics: Cameron Cleveland

The Bishop John R. Gorman Gold Medal for Religion: James E’Akels

The Michael L. Thompson Gold Medal for Music: Jacori Elam

The Donald F. Flynn Gold Medal for History: David Gross

The Dr. James J. Ahern Gold Medal for Science: Wellington Porter

The Thomas & Mary Owens Gold Medal for Mathematics: Cameron Cleveland

The Dr. Stafford L. Hood Gold Medal for English: Oliver Brown Jr.

The Brother James Glos Gold Medal for Foeign Language: Jakolbi Wilson

The Frank W. Considine Gold Medal for Social Justice: Oliver Brown Jr.

The Andrew J. McKenna Gold Medal for Leadership: Cameron Cleveland