They do it every year, and every year it amazes.
The 100-plus-member Oratorio Society of Queens presents Holiday Concert: Handel to Hollywood at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 4 pm.
The program’s first half spotlights excerpts of Handel’s “Messiah” with accompaniment by members of the Forest Hills Garden Players. The second half features a Christmas carol medley – “Christmas at the Movies,” “Let it Go,” and “All I Want for Christmas” – along with Chanukah favorites and other holiday classics. Soloists are Inyoung Lee (soprano), RyuKyung Kim (mezzo), and Evan Katsefes (tenor).
Tickets are $40, but $35 for seniors (62+) and students with ID. Children (12 and under) can attend for $10, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Group sales are available for 10 or more tickets.
This is the second Holiday Concert for Artistic Director + Conductor Jin Byun, who took over the reins from Maestro David Close last year. (Close joined the society as an accompanist in 1968 and became the conductor two years later, kicking off a 50-plus-year run.)
Byun, who has a Doctorate in Musical Arts, conducted various groups at Queens College before becoming the Director of Music Performance and Faculty in Choral and Orchestral Conducting at Union College. (He’s still affiliated with Union College.)
Queensborough Performing Arts Center is located on Queensborough Community College’s campus at 222-05 56th Ave. in Bayside. A large parking lot is on site.
Images: Oratorio Society of Queens