In the realm of school talent events, one fourth-grader left an indelible mark, not only on his mother’s heart but also on millions of viewers worldwide.
Adam Kornowski took center stage during Lakeside Elementary School’s talent show in 2018, captivating the audience with his rendition of John Lennon’s classic, ‘Imagine.’ His mother, Michelle Kornowski, captured the poignant moment on camera as the young performer fearlessly approached the piano. The room fell into a hushed silence, enveloped by the soothing tones of his voice. By the time he concluded, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Michelle, a delighted mother, proudly shared her son Adam’s entire performance on Facebook with family and friends. Little did she know, this act would become a testament to Adam’s exceptional talent. The post garnered an astounding 14 million views and nearly 200,000 likes. She captioned it with:
‘Today was Adam’s all-school talent presentation. He did ‘Imagine.’ By the time it was through, no parent in the room was dry-eyed. He received a standing ovation, and the cheers never stopped! If I released it, a woman stopped me to say she would purchase it on iTunes! I adore his final bow; it is very gracious.’
Adam’s rendition of the inspiring song, characterized by his tranquil and melodic voice along with superb piano playing, struck a chord with viewers. Michelle originally intended the video for family and close friends, making her genuinely shocked when it went viral.
‘I only have 150 Facebook friends, so this was concerning,” Michelle expressed. Despite the unexpected magnitude of Adam’s response, she and Adam decided to ‘see what happens from this.’
“From reading the comments (on the Facebook post), I think I know what happened,” Michelle remarked, describing it as a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience. She believes people were drawn to the young lad singing the song, given the state of the world today. According to Adam, he chose to sing “Imagine” because he resonated with its message of optimism and peace amid virtually no conflicts. “Given what we’re going through right now, it has a lot of relevance,” he told KARE 11.
In Michelle’s words, “There is a lot of conflict in the world, and he wanted to write a song with peace and optimism in it in the hopes that people would listen to it.” She agreed that it was the perfect song choice, adding that the John Lennon song struck a chord with Adam as a 10-year-old wanting to convey a message.
Michelle asserted that Adam, who started learning the piano from his musician father at the age of 5, remains unchanged by internet fame, returning to typical 10-year-old interests like baseball. “He was excited because it was thrilling, but he quickly moved on to the next thing,” she noted.
Adam’s talent has garnered him a new legion of online fans, many of whom lauded his impeccable performance and composure. He has become a viral sensation, with people applauding him for flawlessly delivering the well-known song and maintaining his composure in front of classmates, teachers, and parents.
Initially attempting to personally thank each person leaving positive comments on the Facebook video, Michelle found the influx overwhelming. Instead, she left a message of gratitude for both Adam and herself:
‘Adam’s videos have become very popular. I first made an effort to express gratitude to everyone who shared it and answer every remark, even if it was only to say thank you. Unfortunately, I can’t keep up. We would greatly appreciate it if you liked, commented, or shared it. He has heard some of the most lovely things, and I know it makes him feel fantastic. I’ll keep reading the remarks and talking to Adam about them. The reaction has me speechless. Thank you, everyone!’
Witness the incredible performance here: