LA PLATA, Md. — Following a spectacular opening weekend, the Charles County Youth Orchestra (CCYO) Chamber Music Festival enters its final week with an extraordinary afternoon. On Saturday, July 25, at 4 p.m., an elite faculty string trio will take the stage at Christ Church in La Plata for a concert featuring a major world premiere and a celebrated contemporary masterwork fresh from the Kennedy Center.
The acclaimed faculty string trio features celebrated instrumentalists Teri Lazar (violin), Osman Kivrak (viola) and Marion Baker (cello).
The afternoon’s program anchors itself in two monumental contemporary milestones:
- The World Premiere of Improvisations on a Theme, a brand-new duo written specifically for Teri Lazar and Osman Kivrak by renowned composer Rob Vuono.
- The Maryland Premiere of Hallow for string trio by young composer Bernie Walasavage. This striking work won the prestigious 2025 FMMC International Composition Contest and was originally premiered by this exact trio at the Kennedy Center.
To complement these exciting premieres, the trio will round out the afternoon by performing select masterworks by Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, specifically chosen to guide the audience through the intricate, historical relationships shared between these three legendary composers.
“It is an absolute honor to bring a program of this caliber to Charles County,” says Osman Kivrak, director of the CCYO. “To experience a world premiere and a piece fresh from the Kennedy Center stage in an intimate local setting—completely for free—is a rare cultural moment we are thrilled to share with our neighbors.”
Following Saturday’s professional performance, the festival will conclude on Sunday, July 26, at 4 p.m. with the Grand Student Finale, showcasing seven distinct CCYO youth quartets performing back-to-back works by Dvorak, Schubert, Haydn and Mozart.
Both weekend performances are hosted indoors with air conditioning and open, general admission seating. Admission is 100% free to the public, and no tickets, RSVPs or advance registrations are required. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.
For more information, please visit www.charlescountyyouthorchestra.org or contact charlescountyyouthorchestra@gmail.com.
