23rd Annual Handel's Messiah Sing-Along
Sunday, December 13, 2026 at 4 PM
Celebrate the sounds of the season at Fairlington United Methodist Church! Join us on Sunday, December 13, at 4:00 PM for our 23rd Annual Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along, a joyful holiday tradition open to the entire community!
Whether you're a seasoned singer or simply love Christmas music, you're invited to raise your voice as we sing Part One and the beloved Hallelujah Chorus, accompanied by the Amadeus Orchestra and guest soloists under the direction of Dr. Louise Wilson. The program will also feature Bach’s Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins.
Admission and parking are FREE!
Bring your own Messiah score or purchase a G. Schirmer edition for $10 at the door.
Don’t miss this inspiring community event where you are the chorus!
Soloists
Tess Ottinger
Soprano
Tess Ottinger is a charismatic and versatile soprano based in Northern Virginia, recognized for her expressive musicianship, vibrant stage presence, and engaging interpretations. With a repertoire spanning opera, art song, oratorio, and concert works, Tess brings dramatic sensitivity and musical depth to her performances. Her passion for storytelling and commitment to musical expression have shaped a career encompassing a diverse range of characters, styles, and musical traditions.
Among her recent operatic engagements, Tess has performed the role of Miles in Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw with Bel Cantanti Opera Company, A Greek Woman in Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride with Washington Concert Opera, and Marie in Gaetano Donizetti’s La fille du régiment with Bel Cantanti Opera Company. Equally passionate about concert and oratorio repertoire, Tess has appeared as a featured soloist in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with New Dominion Chorale as well as several solo features with Bach in Baltimore. This December, she looks forward to making her debut with Choralis’s Ēchos Ensemble as the soprano soloist in George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Tess is excited to return to Fairlington United Methodist Church for its 23rd Annual MessiahSing-Along, continuing a cherished musical tradition with the community. Through her work in opera and concert performance, Tess continues to explore the expressive possibilities of the soprano repertoire, bringing authenticity, versatility, and a genuine love of music to every stage.
Elizabeth Sarian
Mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Sarian has been praised for her “pointed, wonderfully appealing lyric mezzo soprano” (Opera Today) and is particularly celebrated for her portrayals of trouser roles. Among her most acclaimed performances are Mozart’s Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and, most recently, Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, where she “nailed Hansel’s boyish affect” (Opera Today).
Recent reviews of her Cherubino have described her as “one of the highlights of the performance, singing and acting and cross dressing” (Opera Gene), while Opera News praised her “joyful incarnation of Cherubino [that] shone with a youthful voice and captivating interpretation.”
During the 2025–2026 season, Ms. Sarian joined The Metropolitan Opera for the workshop of Huang Ruo’s The Wedding Banquet, scheduled to premiere during the company’s 2027–2028 season. She also presented a recital at her alma mater, Hofstra University, made a successful return to Annapolis Opera for her role debut as Hansel, and appeared with the South Shore Symphony as the alto soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Ms. Sarian has appeared with opera companies across the United States, including The Atlanta Opera, Opera Baltimore, Knoxville Opera, Maryland Opera, Opera North, Opera Roanoke, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. She is a proud alumna of the Young Artist Programs at Santa Fe Opera and Central City Opera. In 2022, she was named a National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and received the Sandra Warfield Prize.
On the concert stage, Ms. Sarian has appeared frequently as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and has also performed Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Op. 37, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. A native of Long Island, New York, she holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and Hofstra University.
William Davenport
Tenor
American tenor William Davenport is recognized for a strong yet lyric voice and an Italianate style. Tim Smith of The Baltimore Sun wrote that Davenport “has the makings of a significant tenor,” praising a timbre with “quite an Italianate tint.” After his role debut as the Duca in Rigoletto at the Italian Opera Festival of Orange County, the Italian press reported that the biggest ovation of the evening was his.
Leading roles include Alfredo (La traviata) and Roberto Devereux at Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova; Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore) at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, where he also debuted Gennaro in Lucrezia Borgia opposite Mariella Devia; Rodolfo (La bohème) and Ernesto (Don Pasquale) with Opera Naples; the Duca, Rodolfo, and Tonio (La Fille du régiment) with Sarasota Opera; Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) and Nemorino in Costa Rica with the Compañía Lírica Nacional and the Teatro Nacional; Ruggero (La Rondine) with Opera Boutique; Lensky and Hoffmann with Union Avenue Opera; Edgardo with Baltimore Concert Opera; and Arnold (Guillaume Tell) at the Southern Illinois Opera Festival.
In concert, he has sung Verdi’s Requiem with the Austin Symphony, National Philharmonic, Princeton Symphony, and New Jersey State Opera; Beethoven’s Ninth and Mozart’s Requiem with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica; Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living at Carnegie Hall; and gala concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.
He is a First Prize winner of the Gerda Lissner, Giargiari Bel Canto, and OperaLive Potenza competitions, and a winner of the Opera Orchestra of New York’s Agnes Varis Prize. He also received 2nd Prize at the Veronica Dunne International and was a semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
A dedicated teacher, Davenport taught voice at Southern Virginia University (2021–2022) and has served on the faculty of the FEMUSIK festival in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, and the Festival de Ópera de Zapopan for young singers. He directed Puccini’s La Rondine for Opera Boutique in San José. He holds a Certificate of Performance from the Academy of Vocal Arts (2015) and a Bachelor of Music from the Peabody Conservatory.
Fitzgerald St Louis
Baritone
Baritone Fitzgerald St Louis is garnering attention across American stages for the beauty of his voice and “often eloquent phrasing”. A graduate of the Middle Tennessee State University, he studied with Soprano Dina Cancryn and became the first MTSU student to be accepted at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University and the only MTSU student to do so with a scholarship; The Raymond G Ziegler endowed Scholarship. At the Peabody Institute he studied with grammy award winning baritone William Sharp and tenor Dr. Stanley Cornett. Also, while at The Peabody Institute Fitzgerald was invited to perform with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra under the baton of sir Simon Rattle. Professionally, Fitzgerald has been chosen to premier the role of Reverend in Stinney: An American Execution and Omari in Oman, respectively. Past opera roles include Abimelech in Samson et Dalila, Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Tiger Brown in The Threepenny Opera, Sam in un ballo in maschera, Gregorio in Romeo et Juliette and Cappadoccian/5th Jew in Salome. Fitzgerald has also been fortunate enough to perform under the baton of conductors like Stephen White, Michael Borowitz, Schott Schoonover and Terri Murai. He’s performed on stages at Houston Grand Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera Project Columbus, Winter Opera and Union Opera. Incidentally Mr St Louis currently resides in St Louis, Missouri.
Jennifer Rickard
Violin
Violinist Jennifer Rickard enjoys a varied career as an orchestral and chamber musician, recording artist and teacher. She can be heard locally with the National Philharmonic, Washington Concert Opera, The Apollo Orchestra, Virginia Chamber Orchestra, Amadeus Concerts, the Annapolis Symphony, and the Wolf Trap Opera Orchestra. Jennifer is a member of the original cast recording of Stephen Sondheim’s “Bounce” on the Nonesuch label. She has also recorded on the Naxos label with Post Classical Ensemble, and recently has recorded with the National Philharmonic at Strathmore Hall for the 150th birthday celebration CD of Samuel Coleridge Taylor. Finally, she can be heard on Quintango’s CD “Triumphal” distributed on CD Baby. Ms Rickard received a BA from Barnard College and a MM from the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, OH. When not performing or teaching, Jennifer enjoys cooking, pampering her cats, and home renovation projects with her husband.
Nancy Jin
Violin
A native of Fairfax, VA, Nancy Jin enjoys being a freelance violinist and private violin teacher in the DC Metropolitan area . Ms Jin has been a member of the Amadeus Orchestra since 2007 and also performs with the New Orchestra of Washington and National Philharmonic.
As a dedicated pedagogue, Ms. Jin is a certified Suzuki teacher and teaches a thriving studio of violin students in Ashburn, VA. Her students are regularly placed in All-County, Regional and All-State Orchestras as well as placing in local music competitions. Voted Best Music Instruction of Ashburn Magazine 2020.
Ms. Jin earned her Bachelor of Music in violin performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music, Master of Music from the Yale School of Music and Suzuki Certification from School for Strings in NYC. When she is not teaching or performing, Ms. Jin enjoys spending time with her 2 children, volunteering at her church and walking her dog named Mochi.
Directions & Parking
Fairlington United Methodist Church is conveniently located at 3900 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia, just off I-395 (Exit 4 – King Street). The church sits at the gateway to Alexandria, making it easy to reach from Washington, D.C., Arlington, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.
The main entrance and free on-site parking are accessible directly from King Street. For guests using public transportation, several Metrobus routes stop nearby. The building and parking areas are fully accessible, and clear signage will guide you to the sanctuary entrance.
Plan to arrive a few minutes early to park, find your seat, and settle in before the music begins!
Fairlington UMC
3900 King Street Alexandria VA 22302
(703)-671-8557 • office@fairlingtonumc.org
Copyright 2024 FairlingtonUMC. All Rights Reserved.