The Joyous String Quartet Kids Bring Rock Star Energy and Incredible Classical Skill to “Smooth Criminal.” With a Perfect Mix of Precision and Attitude, They Transform the Classic Track Into Something Jaw-Dropping, Blending Mozart-Level Talent With a Bold, Edgy Twist.
The four youngsters that make up Joyous String Quartet are not only amazing prodigies on their instruments, but they also can wow you with the energy they pump out onstage! The elementary school quartet brought the thunder big time when they hit the stage to play Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” and “Bad” on the German TV show Superkids. The youngsters began the performance by dancing their way onto the stage and hyping the crowd up before they launched into an amazing display of musicality.
The four kids performed an epic orchestral piece before launching into “Smooth Criminal”, but not quite like you’ve heard it before. Joyous String Quartet is made up of two violinists, a cellist, and a double bassist, and they delivered a creative arrangement of the pop hit with the classical instruments. The young cellist Justin Yu delivered the main melody with plenty of attitude before the two violinists joined in and really got the arrangement cooking.
The judges and the audience were amazed with what Joyous String Quartet were delivering onstage, and it’s easy to see why. Personally, I’ve never seen a string quartet, or a cellist soloist, perform quite like that before. It’s certainly a breath of fresh air to hear this kind of arrangement on a pop classic, especially when it’s performed with such gusto and skill.
Netizens were also impressed with Joyous String Quartet’s performance, and tuned in 4.1 million times. This made the quartet’s performance the sixth most popular video in the history of Superkids. Joyous String Quartet are also known as Joyous String Ensemble, presumably because sometimes they perform in larger arrangements than a quartet. The group also impressed when they appeared on Steve Harvey’s Little Big Shots to perform Europe’s “The Final Countdown.”
We love to share the most talented up-and-coming groups here and the incredible musical chops of Joyous String Quartet would already be enough to make them a hit group. But what really separates the group from the pack is the rock star attitude they bring to the performance, particularly the soloist Yu, who can be seen headbanging and rocking out on cello in both videos.
The Joyous String Quartet was formed by the Joyous Music School in Syosset, New York. Joyous Music School is a performing arts school that offers programs in classical instruments, arts, and dance. The school faculty is led by director Julian Yu.
