SONS OF SERENDIP | |
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| Also known as | S.O.S. |
| Origin |
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| Genres | |
| Years active | 2014 (2014)–present |
| Labels | Independent |
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| Website | sonsofserendip |
Sons of Serendip is aclassical crossover ensemble consisting of musicians Kendall Ramseur (cellist), Cordaro Rodriguez (pianist), Mason Morton (harpist), and Micah Christian (lead vocalist). The quartet met in graduate school atBoston University, while completing degrees in Cello Performance (Ramseur), Law (Rodriguez), Harp Performance (Morton), and Theology (Christian).[1] A year after finishing their graduate education, the group formed in 2014 specifically for the reality competition,America's Got Talent (season 9), where they finished in fourth place.[2]
Sons of Serendip gained national attention in 2014 when they appeared on the 9th season ofAmerica's Got Talent. Celebrity judgesHowie Mandel,Mel B,Heidi Klum, andHoward Stern voted them through the audition round and Judgement Week, and into the Quarterfinals. During the live performance rounds, viewers voted the quartet through several rounds and into the Top 6 (Finals). During the finale, which aired on September 17, 2014, they performed their arrangement of "Drops of Jupiter" withTrain. They placed fourth in the competition.[3]
| Week | Location | Song choice | Original artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | New York (Madison Square Garden) | "Somewhere Only We Know" | Keane | Advanced |
| Judgement Week | New York | "I Can't Make You Love Me" | Bonnie Raitt | Advanced |
| Quarterfinals | Radio City Music Hall | "Wicked Game" | Chris Isaak | Advanced |
| Semifinals | Radio City Music Hall | "Don't You Worry Child" | Swedish House Mafia | Advanced |
| Top 12 | Radio City Music Hall | "Ordinary World" | Duran Duran | Advanced (Snapple Save) |
| Top 6 | Radio City Music Hall | "Somewhere Only We Know (reprise)" "Bring Me To Life" | Keane Evanescence | N/A |
| Finale Duets | Radio City Music Hall | "Drops of Jupiter" | Train | 4th Place |
In December 2016, Sons of Serendip joined a cast of America's Got Talent alumni for the first everAmerica's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular.[4] They performed "The Christmas Song" in collaboration with theSilhouettes (the runner-up from season 6).
In 2019, Sons of Serendip was one of 50 acts selected from the globalGot Talent franchise to compete in the first season ofAmerica's Got Talent: The Champions.[5] The season premiered on January 7, 2019, onNBC. On February 4, 2019, the quartet performed "Somewhere Only We Know," and finished in the top three for the episode.
Following the finale of season 9 of America's Got Talent, Sons of Serendip performed forAmerica's Got Talent Live, alongside season 9 winner,Mat Franco, and other selected finalists, atPlanet Hollywood'sAxis Theater.[6] They also made an appearance onFox & Friends' Christmas, joiningAndy Grammer,Jackie Evancho,Scotty McCreery,Jessie James Decker, andRenée Fleming.[7][8] The quartet has since toured nationally, performing at concert halls and performing arts centers, includingBoston's Symphony Hall,[9]The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California,[10] and theAtlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia,[11]
Sons of Serendip has been featured guests at several charitable and private events, includingOprah Winfrey's 2020 Vision Tour closing party,Hank Aaron's Chasing the Dream Foundation, Inc., theRon Burton Humanitarian Award Dinner, and One Family's 15th anniversary gala, where they opened forJohn Legend.[12] Further, in 2016, the quartet performed for the In Memoriam segment for theCreative Arts Emmy Awards at theMicrosoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Their performance aired on September 17, 2016, onFXX.[13][14] Later that year, they were featured artists for theNantucket Project's annual conference.[15] They also performed thenational anthem at theNew York Knicks home opener for the organization's 75th anniversary.[16]
Sons of Serendip has collaborated with a number of orchestras, oftentimes performing orchestrations written, arranged, and notated by pianist, Cordaro Rodriguez, and cellist, Kendall Ramseur. In May 2015, they collaborated with theBoston Pops and guest conductorJohn Morris Russell atBoston's Symphony Hall. Later that year, they were invited to perform withKeith Lockhart and theBoston Pops for theBoston Fourth of July Extravaganza in 2015.[17] The quartet also performed with conductor,Steven Karidoyanes, and the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra at the historic Memorial Hall inPlymouth, Massachusetts. Further, in May 2017, they reunited with conductorJohn Morris Russell and collaborated with theCincinnati Symphony Orchestra and broadway performer,Cynthia Erivo, for the annualClassical Roots concert in Cincinnati, Ohio.[18]
In January 2015, they released their self-titled debut album, which placed in several categories on theBillboard Charts, including No. 4 on Heatseekers.[19] Recordings from their debut album have been placed in various episodes of reality competitions America's Got Talent,The X Factor UK, andThe Four following its release.[20][21] Their second album,Christmas: Beyond the Lights, was released in October 2015 and also charted on the Billboard Charts.[22] On July 14, 2017, they released their third album entitled,Life + Love.
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