Choral fans received a nice surprise over the weekend when Coldplay performed on Saturday Night Live and was unexpectedly joined by the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and YouTube sensation Jacob Collier. The popular British rock band sang its spacey new song “The Astronaut,” with the additional singers joining lead singer Chris Martin for a fortified chorus. Then the singers returned for a well-harmonized take on “Human Heart” and “Fix You.” Even though Martin wasn’t at his best, the choral reinforcements helped take the songs to a new musical level. Watch below to see and hear for yourself.
Ferdinand is a longtime friend of YourClassical whose music also appears regularly on the Choral Stream and YourClassical MPR. The former director of the Aeolians of Oakwood University, he now leads the choral program at the University of Maryland, College Park. The Aeolians’ appearance last year at St. Michael-Albertville High School was captured by YourClassical MPR, along with a follow-up concert with VocalEssence. The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, a professional group that includes some of his former students, will return to STMA on Feb. 21.
Collier has become famous on YouTube and TikTok for his live performances, in which he often teaches the audience how to harmonize and sing along with him as a choir.
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