3 South Bay Teachers Get Golden Buzzer On 'America's Got Talent'

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – What's even better than Willy Wonka's golden ticket? A "golden buzzer" on "America's Got Talent." Three Manhattan Beach teachers along with the rest of The Angel City Chorale received a "golden buzzer" on Tuesday night's episode of the show for their stunning performance of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu."

Mira Costa High School teacher and choir pianist Mark McCormick, Pacific School kindergarten teacher Emily Sanders, and pianist for the Manhattan Beach Middle School choirs Gordon Glor, will advance to the live rounds of the NBC show thanks to guest judge Olivia Munn, who gave them the "golden buzzer," according to The Beach Reporter.

Sue Fink founded the choir in 1993, based out of McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, the newspaper reported. She started the choir because she wanted to give back to the community, Fink said on the show. Around 145 members performed on "America's Got Talent," but there are 160 total singers in the group, she said.

"We try to represent diversity. Different religions, different ages," Find said. "We're black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight. Even the republicans and democrats can sit next to each other in our choir."

The judges loved the group's diversity and performance, which included dance moves and props along with harmonized singing. The live rounds will take place in Hollywood in August, according to The Beach Reporter.

To learn more about the The Angel City Chorale, visit their website.