Ever since winning the world’s votes on “America’s Got Talent” (and the affection of judges’ Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Spice Girl Mel B and Heidi Klum) finalists Sons Of Serendip carved out a clever, classical crossover niche. The group comprised of lead singer Micah Christian, cellist and vocalist Kendall Ramseur, pianist Cordaro Rodriguez and harpist Mason Morton (who connected as graduate students at Boston University) may primarily cover other pop songs of virtually any stripe, but their ingenious arrangements make pretty much anything they touch sound like an original. Fans and newcomers alike will have a chance to gauge for themselves when Sons Of Serendip brings its latest album, “Life + Love,” and previous favorites to Dixon (where President Ronald Reagan was raised) as part of the Sauk Valley Community Concert Association series on September 20.
 
Give us a snapshot of what to expect from your upcoming show.

Micah Christian: Our show will be a fresh mix of creative arrangements of popular music and original compositions, as well as engaging stories and audience participation.

Dixon, IL is very historic and beautiful. What are you looking forward to most about coming to town?

Christian: That’s what we’re most excited about…getting to see the rich history and beauty! That’s one of the best parts about being on tour!

How would you describe the group’s latest album “Life + Love”?

Christian: We had a lot of fun with “Life + Love!” We took a wide range of popular songs, pulling from both classics and contemporary music. We arranged them in a way that allows listeners to feel like they were hearing their favorite songs for the first time. We feel that it’s our most creative album so far!
 
Thus far you’ve found much of your success remaking popular songs in your own unique style. What characteristics are you considering when choosing a cover?

Christian: When choosing what songs to arrange, we look for great lyrics and interesting music that leaves us room to be creative. From there, Cordaro (the pianist) will lay out the chords and set the tone for the song. Then we’ll improvise over what he’s laid out until the parts begin to come together.

Where do originals currently fit into the mix or where do you see them in Sons Of Serendip’s future?

Christian: A few of the members of the group are songwriters and composers, so our originals are mixed into the concert. And they are often times our most popular songs. We’re also working on a fourth album that will include a good number of original songs, which we’re really excited about!
 
What was the most beneficial aspect of being on “America’s Got Talent”?

Christian: “America’s Got Talent” is an incredible platform; it completely changed our lives. We were all going down different paths and weren’t even a group before auditioning for the show. But as we progressed through the competition, we became more and more convinced that we belonged together. Since then, we’ve been recording and touring all over the country. We’ve had a beautiful journey so far, all stemming from our time on “America’s Got Talent.”
 

Were there any drawbacks or anything you would change about the experience if you could?

Christian: There’s nothing we would change about our experience. We had no expectations when we first began, and the journey has been full of incredible surprises.  
 
What’s kept the momentum going in the years since the show? 
 
Christian: Since the show, we’ve had a number of televised appearances, including a performance at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and the “America’s Got Talent” Christmas Extravaganza. Those appearances have helped significantly. But on top of that, our supporters keep momentum going for us! They are constantly sharing our music, and they give us creative ideas for songs and video content. We are so grateful for them for believing so much in what we do.

How would you guys describe your friendship outside of the group?

Christian: What’s amazing about our story is that we were friends before even thinking about becoming a group. Our journey together has turned out friendship into a brotherhood.
 
What’s the next chapter looking like for Sons of Serendip?

Christian: This next chapter is looking to be our most creative season. We’re looking forward to releasing more music and video content. We’re going to continue to arrange popular music, but we’re also excited about songwriting and composing. Also, we love collaborations, so we’re looking to collaborate with other artists. It’s a very exciting time for the group!

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Sons Of Serendip performs at Dixon High School as part of the Sauk Valley Community Concert Association series on Sept. 20. For additional details, visit SonsOfSerendip.com and Svcca.org.