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SARAH Ikumu's soulful vocals swept the judges away on Britain's Got Talent and her powerful voice prompted Simon Cowell to press his golden buzzer.

And now it's been revealed the talented teenager has been developing her talents from an early age as her parents encouraged her to sing in the church choir and enter local talent competitions.

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Sarah Ikumu wowed the crowds and Simon Cowell on Britain's Got TalentCredit: Syco/Thames/Dymond

According to , Sarah was first encouraged to showcase her voice to the world by her pastor father, Alex Gatoto, when he invited her to sing with the church choir at the tender age of five.

And her star has shun brighter and brighter as the aspiring singer went on to compete in local talent competitions including Midlands Teen Star and Milton Keynes Young Musician of the Year.

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The teen started singing the church choir aged 5 as encouraged by her pastor fatherCredit: Syco/Thames/Dymond
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Sarah's star has shun brighter and brighter as the aspiring singer went on to compete in local talent competitionsCredit: Teen Star

The 16-year-old from Milton Keynes also won the talent show held at her school, Hazel Academy, last year which is called "H Factor".

Sarah is now in Year 11 at and currently studying for her GCSE's but has been sure to set up her own souncloud page and official Facebook account as she pursues her singing career.

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Sarah sang an Aretha Frankin track for the TEEN STAR competition in 2015Credit: Teen Star
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She recently won the Milton Keynes Young Musician of the year awardCredit: Rotary International

She will surely be making sure she has practised enough to make an equally big impression at the live semi-finals in a few weeks time.

Music mogul Cowell brought an unexpected end to the first round of auditions on Saturday by giving the coveted Golden Buzzer to Sarah on the first episode of the new series.

Sarah Ikumu's performance impressed Simon so much he immediately hit his Golden Buzzer
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Sarah Ikumu's performance impressed Simon so much he immediately hit his Golden BuzzerCredit: Syco/Thames/Dymond

The teen wowed audiences with her show-stopping rendition of And I Am Telling You on Saturday night's show.

Cowell seemed cynical as she walked shyly onto the stage in a beige jumper and jeans, while her parents and sister watched from the crowd.

Both he and the waiting audience looked far from optimistic as he described the track as one of the "biggest songs in the world".

It was the first and only Golden Buzzer in the series so far
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It was the first and only Golden Buzzer in the series so farCredit: Syco/Thames/Dymond
The young singer couldn't believe her luck
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The young singer couldn't believe her luckCredit: Syco/Thames/Dymond

But her flawless performance of the emotional epic brought the auditorium at London's Palladium theatre to its feet as Cowell hit the button to automatically propel her to the competition's semi-final.

"I have heard that song a lot," he said.

"I thought it started great and then it's like you became possessed halfway through, it was quite incredible."

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