The Black youth choir that performed at President Barack Obama’s inauguration last week has been signed by Universal Music.

As they returned to Nairobi from D.C., officials of the label met the members of the Boys Choir of Kenya at London’s Heathrow Airport.

The group was the only international choir to sing at the inauguration. Its members, who are between 13 and 24 years old, put on an impromptu performance for passengers before flying on to Kenya.

"We heard about the record deal about two days ago,” said Artistic Director Joseph Muyale. “I felt delighted on behalf of the boys. We began from humble beginnings and to be recognized by a large recording company is so humbling and quite an honor. We just thank God."

Universal Classics A&R representative Tom Lewis, who met the boys at Heathrow, said he only saw the boys once, after a colleague urged him to watch a clip of the choir online.

"It has been frantic,” he said. “I didn't know how I was going to get to see the choir – they're not allowed to leave the airport because they're in transit. At one point, I even considered buying a ticket so I could join them. But we've been allowed into the departures lounge."