Edmonton teen shines on Canada’s Got Talent

Music starts the day at Edmonton’s Johnny Bright School, but for one student the sound does more than fill his ears.

“It removes all the weights of life, even just for a brief moment,” explained Evangel Omiri Besong, who’s been getting national attention, after his Canada’s Got Talent audition.

“Everyone in the room thinks you’re great, but you’re really nervous,” said Howie Mandel, before encouraging the 14-year-old, at the time of recording, to take a second shot.

“I want you to sing it one more time because I want it to sound perfect and you have perfection.”

Besong went on to get a standing ovation before Judge Lilly Singh called him down to the judge’s table for a special message.

“Are you a big Shawn Mendes fan? Because Shawn thought your performance was amazing,” said Singh to Besong, before showing her cell phone, revealing a video call with Shawn Mendes.

Besong: “WHAT! NO!”

Singh: “So Shawn, this young boy just sang and absolutely crushed it.”

Mendes: “I’m so happy. Keep singing it. I hope everything goes amazing over there.”

Following the video call, Besong was brought to tears.

WATCH: Evangel Omari Besong Gets a HUGE Surprise After SINGING Shawn Mendes Cover | Canada’s Got Talent

“It kinda felt unreal in that instance,” explained Besong.

He said after the audition, reality sunk in when he went back to junior high.

“I felt all the eyes on me, and it felt kinda weird.”

The awe hasn’t been lost on his occasional duet partner. Besong often joins the school’s assistant principal, Andy Connelly, to sing to students on their birthdays.

“One of the beautiful things about Evangel singing to his peers, is you just see the whole place light up. His voice is so beautiful, it just fills the place with joy,” said Connelly.

As for his friends?

“He was just kinda like, I’m on Canada’s got talent. We were like, WHAT! What no way,” said Matthew.

Shubham adding, “I tell them, this guy is going to be one of greatest singers in the world one day. Mark my words.”

Along with supportive friends, Besong also credits his success to his faith and his mom.

“My mother first introduced me to it, she just woke up one day and was like, you should sin,” he explained but recognized there’s still more to come. “I don’t want to put too much out there. Just keep watching, keep listening, keep tuning in.”

Canada’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays on CityTV.