As the lights went down and the crowd became silent in expectation, a young girl, perhaps ten years old, strolled boldly onto the stage.
She held a microphone in front of the judges, including Simon Cowell, who is notoriously caustic and known for his stingy remarks.
The intensity and purity of her voice captivated everyone as it reverberated across the hall. With each note precisely hitting its point, the lyrics reverberated with genuine feeling. The atmosphere changed as she sang, and the room was filled with a tangible energy.