One of the borough’s most traditional seasonal events gets a completely new twist this year, when the Oratorio Society of Queens offers its Holiday Concert at Queensborough Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4 pm.
Maestro David Close — who joined the group as an accompanist in 1968 and became the conductor two years later — resigned recently. Thus, this is new Artistic Director + Conductor Jin Byun’s first chance to demonstrate his talent.
Byun, who has a Doctorate in Musical Arts, should be a good fit with the 100-member-plus OSQ, which is the borough’s oldest arts nonprofit. He conducted various groups at Queens College before becoming the Director of Music Performance and Faculty in Choral and Orchestral Conducting at Union College.
The first half of the Holiday Concert consists of selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” The second portion features Christmas carols including “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “The First Noel,” Chanukah songs “Mi Y’maleil” and “Ma’oz Tsur,” the Puerto Rican classic “Feliz Navidad,” and the Korean folk song “Arirang.” Soloists Inyoung Lee (soprano) and Nicholas Provenzale (baritone) will perform as will members of the Orchestral Arts Ensemble of Queens.
General admission is $40, while seniors (62+) and students pay $35 and children (12 and under) pay $10. QPAC is located at 222-05 56th Ave. in Bayside.
Kings In Queens
Another long-running tradition, Queens College Choral Society’s 83rd Winter Concert, is on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 8 pm.
This concert also features a work by Handel, “Coronation Anthems.” The group will present thee of the four anthems to celebrate the recent coronation of King Charles III in England. The other song is “The Ballad of the Brown King” by Margaret Evan Bonds. Premiered in 1954 with a text by Langston Hughes, “Ballad of the Brown King” honors Balthazar.
Tickets cost $25, but students can attend for $5.
The 83rd Winter Concert is scheduled for LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College, which is at 153-49 Reeves Ave. in Flushing.
Images: Oratorio Society of Queens