Serendipitous encounters led to deliberate music

Published 6:41 pm Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Sons of Serendip to perform on Sunday

COURTLAND

Happy are those people who go to concerts not knowing what to expect, and discover the joy of the performers’ music. That’s what could be waiting for go to hear the Sons of Serendip.

The quartet will perform starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, in the auditorium of Southampton High School, Courtland. This is the second show in the Franklin-Southampton Concert Association.

Based on the biographies listed in their website, www.sonsofserendip.com, each of the men grew up with music enriching their lives.

• Marc Christian, the vocalist, sang in his high school senior choir and continued to explore his interest in music that through college and into an a cappella group called Hyannis Sound. In addition to singing, Christian has been involved in volunteer work in Central and South America and India.

As stated on the site, “As a member of Sons of Serendip, Micah hopes to inspire others to use their gifts to spread love and build a better world.”

• Mason Morton, who performs the harp, was encouraged by his family to develop the love for music. He has been mentored by Nella Rigell, principal harpist of the Atlanta Ballet, and Ann Hobson Pilot, former principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Morton’s hope is that “his journey will help to inspire others to follow their dreams.”

• Kendall Ramseur was already learning to play piano as a child when he felt called to learn to play the cello. That happened, he reported, when an orchestra teacher laid out all the instruments and told the students to stand by which instrument they wanted to play. “…the cello really sparked something in me,” stated Ramseur. “… his hope is that this quartet will inspire others through their music, creating an experience one will never forget.”

Cordaro Rodriguez, a childhood friend of Ramseur in Charlotte, North Carolina, is “very grateful to have the opportunity to pursue his love for music” in Sons of Serendip. In addition to teaching himself piano, Rodriguez went to to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Princeton University. Like Christian, he’s done volunteer work teaching English in Ecuador. While studying for a law degree at Boston University, he — wait for it — “serendipitously reconnected with his childhood friend ..” and also met Morton and Christian.

The men developed their musicality to the point that they became finalists on Season 9 of “America’s Got Talent.” They’ve since toured across the country performing both arrangements and original music.

Other honors included the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and collaborating with Cynthia Erivo, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops.

If you do not yet have a subscription for the season, tickets at the door are $30 per adult and $10 per student. To learn more, contact Nancy Rowe, director, at 653-7914 or visit www.franklinsouthamptonconcerts.org.