Cinematic Pop — a group of 100-plus musicians led by composer/arranger Rob Gardner — is known for their classically-tinged arrangements of iconic pop/rock songs. On their YouTube channel, you can hear cover versions of U2, Leonard Cohen, Coldplay, and more.
In a recent interview, Gardner explains that the goal of this series of arrangements is to bring classical music to new audiences.
"For many years, classical music concert attendance has been in decline. By fusing iconic pop songs with the best elements of classical cinematic film score composition, we can bring new audiences to classical concert halls."
One video in the series stands out in particular, and has surpassed the 200,000-view count on YouTube — a beautiful cover of Nirvana's 1991 hit, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," featuring then-16-year-old McKenna Breinholt backed by a full orchestra and 60-person choir.
Enjoy the video of Breinholt's performance below, filmed last June at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Ariz.
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