Laura Bretan

Laura Bretan is an opera singer act from Season 11 of America's Got Talent.

Background
Laura Bretan is from Chicago, Illinois. Encouraged by her mother, Laura Bretan has been singing in church since she was a four-year-old girl. At age seven, while listening to Disney's "Sleeping Beauty," she realized she can sing in a different manner, however she continued to sing only Christian music.

In 2014, she started to listen to other genres and to learn some arias. She fell in love with classical music and has been an aspiring opera singer ever since. She believes she can touch people's hearts with her voice and hopes she can inspire others, especially teenagers, to enjoy opera as much as she does after realizing that it is the most complex form of art. Her favorite composers are Giacomo Puccini and Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

Along with being American, Laura is also Romanian, born to Romanian parents. She went to Romania for her Romanian grandfather's funeral and while there, she auditioned for the sixth season of Romania's Got Talent at his wish. She eventually won the series. When she receives the cash prize, she will donate a big portion of it for orphans and to help end homelessness, two causes in which she strongly believes in.

It was always a dream to perform on the America's Got Talent stage, since the US is her birthplace. 

Audition
Laura Bretan's audition in Episode 1101 consisted of singing singing "Nessun dorma" from the opera Turandot. The act received a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel. Moved by her performance, Mel B pressed her Golden Buzzer to send Laura straight to the Quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals
Laura Bretan's Week 1 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1111 consisted of singing Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer". Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell gave her standing ovations. Laura received enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals in Episode 1112 along with Jayna Brown.

Semifinals
Laura Bretan's Week 1 Semifinals performance in Episode 1117 consisted of singing "Pie Jesu". Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave her standing ovations. Laura finished in fourth, fifth, or sixth place in America's Vote. In the Dunkin' Save, Laura received fewer online votes than Tape Face. In the Judges' Choice, although Howie Mandel did not vote for her, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Simon Cowell did, sending her to the Finals in Episode 1118 instead of Edgar.

Finals
Laura Bretan's Finals performance in Episode 1121 consisted of singing "O mio babbino caro." Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave her standing ovations.

Finale
For the finale in Episode 1122, Laura Bretan