Sons of Serendip
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = SONS OF SERENDIP
| image =
| image_size = 300
| alt = Sons of Serendip.: Kendall Ramseur, Mason Morton, Cordaro Rodriguez, Micah Christian
| caption = Sons of Serendip (l-r): Cordaro Rodriguez, Micah Christian, Mason Morton, Kendall Ramseur
| alias = S.O.S.
| origin = {{ubl|America's Got Talent {{small|(group)}}|Boston, U.S. {{small|(Christian)}}|Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. {{small|(Ramseur)}}|Atlanta, U.S. {{small|(Morton)}}|Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. {{small|(Rodriguez)}}}}
| genre = {{hlist|Classical crossover}}
| years_active = {{start date|2014}}–present
| label = Independent
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|sonsofserendip.com}}
| current_members = {{ubl|Kendall Ramseur (cellist) |Cordaro Rodriguez (pianist) |Mason Morton (harpist) |Micah Christian (lead vocalist) }}
}}
Sons of Serendip is a classical 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 at Boston University, while completing degrees in Cello Performance (Ramseur), Law (Rodriguez), Harp Performance (Morton), and Theology (Christian).{{cite news|last1=Lauren|first1=Daley|title=Sons of Serendip compete on 'America's Got Talent'|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2014/06/09/sons-serendip-compete-america-got-talent/kE51iCX0Y2YbLZcsiol4UN/story.html|accessdate=July 19, 2017|work=Boston Globe|date=June 10, 2014}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Lauren|first1=Daley|title=RI's Mat Franco wins 'America's Got Talent'|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2014/09/18/mat-franco-wins-boston-sons-serendip-take-america-got-talent/TMyhpBuOtqvQqNGyfCFxuJ/story.html|accessdate=July 19, 2017|work=Boston Globe|date=September 18, 2014}}
''America's Got Talent''
=Overview=
Sons of Serendip gained national attention in 2014 when they appeared on the 9th season of America's Got Talent. Celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howard 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" with Train. They placed fourth in the competition.{{cite web|last1=Shao|first1=Yiqing|title=Sons of Serendip Are in the Finals of America's Got Talent|url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/blog/2014/09/17/sons-of-serendip-americas-got-talent/|website=Boston Magazine|date=17 September 2014 |publisher=Metrocorp|accessdate=18 September 2014}}
=Performances/results=
| class="wikitable"
! Week ! Location ! Song choice ! Original artist ! Result |
| Audition
| New York (Madison Square Garden) | Keane | Advanced |
| Judgement Week
| New York | Advanced |
| Quarterfinals
| Radio City Music Hall | "Wicked Game" | Advanced |
| Semifinals
| Radio City Music Hall | Advanced |
| Top 12
| Radio City Music Hall | "Ordinary World" | Advanced (Snapple Save) |
| Top 6
| Radio City Music Hall | "Somewhere Only We Know (reprise)" | N/A |
| Finale Duets | Radio City Music Hall | "Drops of Jupiter" | Train | 4th Place |
=America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular=
In December 2016, Sons of Serendip joined a cast of America's Got Talent alumni for the first ever America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular.{{cite web|last1=Stauffer|first1=Derek|title='America's Got Talent: Holiday Spectacular' Recap: The Acts of Past and Present Celebrate the Holidays|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/americas-got-talent/americas-got-talent-holiday-sp-62540.aspx|website=BuddyTv.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} They performed "The Christmas Song" in collaboration with the Silhouettes (the runner-up from season 6).
=America's Got Talent: The Champions=
In 2019, Sons of Serendip was one of 50 acts selected from the global Got Talent franchise to compete in the first season of America's Got Talent: The Champions.{{cite web|last1=BWW|first1=NewsDesk|title='Sons of Serendip Compete on "America's Got Talent: The Champions" February 4th, on NBC|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/Sons-of-Serendip-Compete-on-Americas-Got-Talent-The-Champions-February-4th-on-NBC-20190124|website=broadwayworld.com|accessdate=September 26, 2019}} The season premiered on January 7, 2019, on NBC. On February 4, 2019, the quartet performed "Somewhere Only We Know," and finished in the top three for the episode.
Live performances
Following the finale of season 9 of America's Got Talent, Sons of Serendip performed for America's Got Talent Live, alongside season 9 winner, Mat Franco, and other selected finalists, at Planet Hollywood's Axis Theater.{{cite web|title=Americas Got Talent Top 6 Will Perform at The AXIS|url=http://vegas.travelivery.com/americas-got-talent-at-the-axis/|website=vegas.travelivery.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} They also made an appearance on Fox & Friends' Christmas, joining Andy Grammer, Jackie Evancho, Scotty McCreery, Jessie James Decker, and Renée Fleming.{{cite web|title=Fox & Friends Christmas 2014|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4263008/|website=imdb.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Fox & Friends (Episodes)|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/fox-friends/episode-26074950/201471/|website=tvguide.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} The quartet has since toured nationally, performing at concert halls and performing arts centers, including Boston's Symphony Hall,{{cite web|last1=Pickette|first1=Samantha|title=Commencement Weekend 2015: What to Do|url=http://www.bu.edu/today/2015/commencement-weekend-2015-what-to-do/|website=bu.edu|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California,{{cite web|last1=Rice|first1=Shawn|title=America's Got Talent Holiday Spectacular: Sons of Serendip and The Silhouettes Perform 'The Christmas Song'|url=http://www.business2community.com/entertainment/americas-got-talent-holiday-spectacular-sons-serendip-silhouettes-perform-christmas-song-01735161#D72vFWWyyc1MxxWH.97.|website=business2community.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} and the Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia,{{cite web|title=Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Sets November Programs|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/Atlanta-Symphony-Orchestra-Sets-November-Programs-20151030|website=broadwayworld.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}
Sons of Serendip has been featured guests at several charitable and private events, including Oprah Winfrey's 2020 Vision Tour closing party, Hank Aaron's Chasing the Dream Foundation, Inc., the Ron Burton Humanitarian Award Dinner, and One Family's 15th anniversary gala, where they opened for John Legend.{{cite news|last1=Corsano|first1=Erica|title=Social Scene: A noteworthy lineup at gala|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/inside_track/the_inside_track/2015/03/social_scene_a_noteworthy_lineup_at_gala|accessdate=July 19, 2017|agency=Boston Herald|date=March 5, 2015}} Further, in 2016, the quartet performed for the In Memoriam segment for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Their performance aired on September 17, 2016, on FXX.{{cite web|last1=Morales|first1=Juan|title=HBO Leads the Way at Saturday Creative Arts Emmys with 11, Including 9 for Game of Thrones; FX Takes 10|url=http://www.emmys.com/news/awards-news/2016-creative-arts-saturday-recap|website=Emmys.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Scrizzi Driscoll|first1=Kathi|title=Sons of Serendip sing at Creative Emmys|url=http://blogs.capecodonline.com/cape-cod-culture-flash/2016/09/16/sons-of-serendip-sing-at-creative-emmys/|website=blogs.capecodonline.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} Later that year, they were featured artists for the Nantucket Project's annual conference.{{cite web|title=Past Presenters|url=https://www.nantucketproject.com/tnp7/past-presenters|website=nantucketproject.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} They also performed the national anthem at the New York Knicks home opener for the organization's 75th anniversary.{{cite web|last1=Robbins|first1=Lenn|title=The Garden Comes Alive During Knicks' Home Opener|url=http://www.msgnetworks.com/2016/10/29/robbins-nest-the-garden-comes-alive-in-knicks-home-opener/|website=msg networks.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}
Orchestra collaborations
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 the Boston Pops and guest conductor John Morris Russell at Boston's Symphony Hall. Later that year, they were invited to perform with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for the Boston Fourth of July Extravaganza in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Steve|title=Boston Pops put patriotic power on display on perfect night|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/07/04/pops-put-patriotic-power-display-perfect-night/DvjetW20oeW1vYaty7GOHL/story.html|accessdate=July 19, 2017|work=Boston Globe|date=July 5, 2015}} The quartet also performed with conductor, Steven Karidoyanes, and the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra at the historic Memorial Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Further, in May 2017, they reunited with conductor John Morris Russell and collaborated with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and broadway performer, Cynthia Erivo, for the annual Classical Roots concert in Cincinnati, Ohio.{{cite web|title=Sons of Serendip in Concert|url=http://cincinnatisymphony.org/concerts-plus-events/special-concerts-and-events/sons-of-serendip/|website=cincinnatisymphony.org|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}
Albums
In January 2015, they released their self-titled debut album, which placed in several categories on the Billboard Charts, including No. 4 on Heatseekers.{{cite web|title=Heatseeker Albums|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2015-02-07|website=billboard.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} Recordings from their debut album have been placed in various episodes of reality competitions America's Got Talent, The X Factor UK, and The Four following its release.{{cite web|title=Sharon Irving: Mel B Hits Golden Buzzer for Soulful Singer - America's Got Talent 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaANAoxiao|website=youtube.com|publisher=America's Got Talent|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Kechi Catches The Judges' Attention With An Inspiring Performance - America's Got Talent 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUP9lehOji0|website=youtube.com|publisher=America's Got Talent|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} Their second album, Christmas: Beyond the Lights, was released in October 2015 and also charted on the Billboard Charts.{{cite web|title=Chart History|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6746454/sons-of-serendip/chart|website=billboard.com|accessdate=July 19, 2017}} On July 14, 2017, they released their third album entitled, Life + Love.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{America's Got Talent}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:America's Got Talent contestants