The holiday musical season will begin tomorrow with free concerts at island churches.

» Tomorrow, 4 p.m. Better than karaoke is the community sing-along of Handel's “;Messiah.”; The audience is encouraged to join trained choristers in the annual event at Christ Church Uniting, 1300 Kailua Road. Singers are asked to bring their own music.

» Tomorrow, 5:30 p.m. Cantores Hemolele, a chamber vocal group, will perform Hawaiian songs by Robert Engle, Leohone Magno and Justin Kaupu; religious music by Elgar, Grieg and Kodaly; and Renaissance compositions by Hans Leo Hassler, Peter Phillips and William Byrd. The program is at St. Andrew's Cathedral at Queen Emma Square.

» Wednesday, 7 p.m. Kawaiaha'o Church presents a free concert, “;PsalmFest: A Thanksgiving Choral Celebration.”; The Kawaiaha'o Church Choir, Honolulu Chamber Choir, Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus and Kawaiolaonapukanileo Vocal Ensemble will perform choral works by John Rutter, Ruth Henderson, Allen Pote and local composers Jon Magnussen, Toni Ko and John Starr Alexander.

» Friday, 7 p.m. New Hope Christian Fellowship will stage a musical show based on the classic Christmas movie “;It's a Wonderful Life”; at Farrington High School Auditorium. The 100-member youth choir directed by Dane Ison will perform at 7 p.m. Friday and at 4 and 7 p.m. Nov. 29. Performances will continue through Dec. 13. Tickets are $10. For registration information, call 842-4242, ext. 411, or visit the Web site http://www.enewhope.org.

» Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m. St. Andrew's Cathedral, Queen Emma Square, will hold an Advent Carol Service, beginning the four-week season of preparation for Christmas with scriptural readings and music by the Cathedral Choir.