LA PLATA — The Charles County Youth Orchestra will hold two concerts on June 13 featuring its student ensembles and a competition for solo performance opportunities.
The first event takes place at noon at ArtsFest on the Village Green in Indian Head. Students from the Prelude Strings, Encore Band, Encore Strings and the main Charles County Youth Orchestra will perform works including the 1812 Overture, Ode to Joy, selections by Pachelbel and Handel, and music from “The Avengers.”
At 4 p.m. the same day, seven CCYO students will compete in the orchestra’s seventh annual Concerto Competition Concert at Christ Church in La Plata. The event offers participants a chance to win a solo performance with the orchestra and cash prizes. Featured works include compositions by Mozart, Goltermann, Bloch and others.
Additional summer performances include a July 3 concert at 8 p.m. at the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeek and the CCYO Chamber Music Festival with concerts on July 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 4 p.m. at Christ Church in La Plata. All events are free and open to the public.
Auditions for the next season are scheduled for Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Christ Church in La Plata. Students of all levels and instruments except piano are encouraged to participate.
The Charles County Youth Orchestra operates four ensembles serving beginning to advanced musicians. Prelude Strings is for beginning string players, while Encore Strings and Encore Band target intermediate levels. The main orchestra is for advanced players. The program draws students from Charles, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, Calvert and Anne Arundel counties.
In the past year, CCYO ensembles performed at venues including the Port Tobacco Courthouse, Maryland Veterans Museum, Kris Kringle event at the fairgrounds, Village Green in Indian Head, Christ Church in La Plata and the Alice Ferguson Foundation. Two CCYO string quartets reached the finals of the Washington Performing Arts Society Misbin Chamber Music Competition. The orchestra has also been featured in a Charles County Arts Alliance online film and on WTOP radio.
The program receives support through grants from the Charles County Charitable Trust, Charles County Arts Alliance and Maryland State Arts Council, along with individual donations. It offers two large concerts, smaller performances, a two-week chamber music festival, the concerto competition, masterclasses and sectionals each year.
