When ten-year-old Bay Melnick Virgolino walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage, he looked like any other young contestant about to face one of the biggest auditions on television.
Then he picked up his guitar.
Within seconds, the atmosphere changed.
Bay wasn’t simply playing a few notes to show the judges that he knew how to play guitar. He attacked the instrument with the confidence, energy and attitude of a much more experienced rock performer.
His performance of “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz turned the AGT stage into what felt more like a rock concert.
And the judges were clearly impressed.
The Ten-Year-Old Who Wanted to Play Like Slash
Bay Melnick Virgolino is a young guitarist from New York.
His interest in guitar began when he was very young. During his AGT audition, Bay explained that he asked his mother for guitar lessons when he was five because he was obsessed with Slash, the legendary Guns N’ Roses guitarist. (parade.com)
That early fascination with rock guitar eventually developed into serious musicianship.
By the time Bay reached America’s Got Talent Season Twenty in 2025, he had already developed the confidence to perform in front of a huge television audience.
But nobody could quite predict how much personality he would bring to the stage.
Then Bay Started Playing Lenny Kravitz
For his audition, Bay chose “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” Lenny Kravitz’s hard-driving rock classic.
It was an ambitious selection.
The song is built around a powerful guitar sound, and Bay had to do more than simply play the basic melody.
He had to capture the energy of the original.
He did exactly that.
Bay launched into the performance with an impressive guitar solo, moving around the stage while playing with remarkable confidence for someone only ten years old.
The guitar itself looked almost as big as he was.
But once he started playing, his age seemed almost irrelevant.
The Judges Saw a Mini Rock Star
Bay’s performance quickly caught the attention of the judges.
Mel B praised his ability to get completely into the performance, specifically highlighting his riffs and the feeling he put into the guitar playing. (parade.com)
That was an important distinction.
Bay wasn’t impressive simply because he was ten.
He was impressive because he was actually playing the guitar with skill and stage confidence.
The audience responded with enthusiasm as Bay continued shredding through the song.
For several minutes, the AGT theater felt less like a traditional talent-show audition and more like a live rock performance.
Lenny Kravitz Himself Noticed
Bay’s performance eventually attracted attention from the very artist whose song he had performed.
Lenny Kravitz praised the young guitarist on social media after seeing the audition.
That gave the performance another remarkable layer.
Bay had walked onto AGT as a ten-year-old who admired rock legends.
Then he performed one of Lenny Kravitz’s signature songs well enough to catch Kravitz’s attention.
For a young guitarist still at the beginning of his musical journey, that was a major moment.
His AGT Journey Continued
Bay’s audition was not the end of his Season Twenty story.
He returned for the quarterfinals, where he performed Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.”
This time, he was backed by guitarist Kiko Loureiro, adding another experienced musician to the young performer’s rock performance. (guitarworld.com)
The quarterfinal performance again demonstrated that Bay’s first audition had not been a fluke.
He continued to show confidence, energy and strong guitar technique on the AGT stage.
His journey ultimately continued into the semifinals, where he performed “Born to Be Wild.” (youtube.com)
For a ten-year-old competing against singers, dancers and other experienced performers, making it that far was a remarkable achievement.
Why Bay’s Audition Stood Out
There is something especially surprising about watching a child perform rock guitar at this level.
The audience knows Bay is ten.
But once the music starts, the performance doesn’t feel like a child simply trying to imitate an adult musician.
Bay moves with confidence.
He attacks the guitar.
He understands the importance of stage presence.
And most importantly, he clearly enjoys the music.
That combination gives his audition its energy.
The surprise isn’t just that a ten-year-old can play guitar.
It’s that he already understands how to perform.
Full-Performance Information
Bay Melnick Virgolino auditioned for America’s Got Talent Season Twenty in 2025.
He was ten years old and performed “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz on electric guitar. Parade reported that Bay had asked his mother for guitar lessons at age five because of his fascination with Slash. (parade.com)
The supplied YouTube video is published by Top Viral Talent, rather than the official America’s Got Talent channel. It was published on July 15, 2025. (youtube.com)
Watch Bay Melnick Virgolino’s Full AGT Audition
Want to see the ten-year-old guitarist who brought serious rock energy to the AGT stage?
Watch the full performance here:
Bay’s performance is a great example of how a young performer can surprise an audience not only with technical ability, but with genuine stage presence and a clear love for the music.
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A Ten-Year-Old With a Rock Star’s Energy
Bay Melnick Virgolino’s AGT audition is memorable because the young guitarist never seemed intimidated by the size of the stage.
He picked up his guitar and played.
The result was an energetic performance of a Lenny Kravitz classic that showcased both his technical ability and his natural stage presence.
What began with a five-year-old asking his mother for guitar lessons eventually led to a ten-year-old performing in front of the America’s Got Talent judges.
And Bay’s journey showed that rock and roll doesn’t have an age limit.
Sometimes the next generation of guitar heroes is already standing onstage — waiting for someone to turn up the volume.
