LA PLATA — The Charles County Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Osman Kivrak, will present its annual Messiah Sing-Along Concert on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Christ Church, 112 Charles Street in La Plata.
The family-friendly event is free and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted. Audience members of all ages are invited to sing along with the full symphony orchestra on several of Handel’s most beloved choruses from Messiah, including “For Unto Us a Child Is Born,” “Glory to God,” and the “Hallelujah” Chorus. Vocal scores will be provided for use during the performance and collected at the end of the evening.
In addition to selections from Handel’s oratorio, the youth musicians will perform holiday favorites from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet suite and popular seasonal carols such as Greensleeves and the Ukrainian Bell Carol.
Christ Church is fully handicapped accessible, with parking available on site and along nearby streets in downtown La Plata.
The Charles County Youth Orchestra serves more than 150 young musicians from Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, Prince George’s, and Anne Arundel counties. The program operates four ensembles tailored to different experience levels: Prelude Strings for beginners, Encore Strings and Encore Band for intermediate players, and the flagship Charles County Youth Orchestra for advanced students. All ensembles rehearse weekly in La Plata and perform multiple concerts each season.
Dr. Osman Kivrak, a professional violinist and longtime music educator in Southern Maryland, has directed the organization for over two decades. The program receives partial funding through grants from the Charles County Charitable Trust, Charles County Arts Alliance, Maryland State Arts Council, and individual contributions.
The December 5 performance also serves as a preview for mid-year auditions scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at Christ Church. Students of all levels on orchestral instruments—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion—are welcome to audition; piano is the only instrument not accepted. Audition requirements, repertoire excerpts, and online sign-up forms are available at the orchestra’s official website.
No advance registration is required to attend the Messiah Sing-Along. Attendees are encouraged to bring their holiday spirit and, if desired, a canned good for the church’s community food pantry.
