**** FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 ****
8pm - Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
repeats - Tuesday, 12/9@1pm
Join us for a powerful and moving holiday celebration as the Marquette Choral Society presents "Transcendence." Dr. Erin Colwitz will lead the symphonic choir in performances of inspiring compositions. You'll hear Tarik O'Regan's "Martyr" and Joseph Haydn's "Mass in a Time of War," and other celebrated holiday works, masterfully brought to life by this talented choir. Hosted by Kurt Hauswirth. (Rebroadcast from 2023)
**** SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 ****
4pm - A Very Shuffled Holiday Special 2024
repeats - Monday, 12/8 @2pm
Tune in for an hour of holiday tunes, reimagined by the Upper Great Lakes’ most talented musicians. Join us for a unique mix of holiday magic, showcasing exclusive recordings and reflections by local artists from your community (rebroadcast from 2024).
**** SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 ****
3pm - A Holiday Showcase
Jazz Showcase host Anna Tousley brings you holiday favorites in jazz, blues, R&B and beyond.
**** MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 ****
2pm - A Very Shuffled Holiday Special 2024
Tune in for an hour of holiday tunes, reimagined by the Upper Great Lakes’ most talented musicians. Join us for a unique mix of holiday magic, showcasing exclusive recordings and reflections by local artists from your community (rebroadcast from 2024).
11pm - A Night Studio Christmas
**** TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 ****
Holiday Readings & Remembrances (WNMU)
Weekdays, 12/9 thru 12/24 @9:30am (varying length prgs)
Holiday remembrances and stories from our archives told by listeners like you along with a vintage recording by author Dylan Thomas of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”
1pm - Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
Join us for a powerful and moving holiday celebration as the Marquette Choral Society presents "Transcendence." Dr. Erin Colwitz will lead the symphonic choir in performances of inspiring compositions. You'll hear Tarik O'Regan's "Martyr" and Joseph Haydn's "Mass in a Time of War," and other celebrated holiday works, masterfully brought to life by this talented choir. Hosted by Kurt Hauswirth. (Rebroadcast from 2023)
**** WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 ****
3pm - The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays Renowned film critic Michael Phillips is your host for The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays, an hour-long special devoted to holiday and wintertime movie music. In addition to beloved standards (“White Christmas” from Holiday Inn and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Meet Me in St. Louis), Michael shares an eclectic mix of wintry film scores, ranging from “It Happened in Sun Valley” (from Sun Valley Serenade) to Alexandre Desplat’s folk-inspired score for The Grand Budapest Hotel to Bernard Herrmann’s bracing sleigh ride accompaniment composed for the Orson Welles drama The Magnificent Ambersons. Bundle up and enjoy The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays!
**** THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11 ****
10am - Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin
repeats - Thursday, 1/1 @10am
Winter holidays are celebrated around the world with music wonderful to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe. Celebrated educator, performer, conductor, composer and host of the WFMT Radio Network’s Exploring Music, Bill McGlaughlin gathers this spirited selection that starts in the 12th century with “Nova Stella,” medieval Italian Christmas music from Saint Francis of Assisi’s staging of the nativity; jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s classical composition “La Fiesta de la Posada,” evoking a Mexican Christmas celebration; and Vaughan Williams' “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” We will enjoy this time of year in Paris with music from Debussy, and then travel to Polynesia for a traditional hymn, “Anau Oia Ea,” and ending with an excerpt from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production. Turn on your radio, pour a cup of tea, cozy up to a warm fire, and enjoy the music!
11am - Gaudete! Early Music for Christmas
Sara Schneider, producer and host of Early Music Now, presents Gaudete! Early Music for the Christmas Season, with joyful and contemplative sounds of the season. In this uplifting and memorable holiday special, we’ll hear Byzantine chant by Kassiani, and selections from Missa Puer natus est nobis by Thomas Tallis, plus hymns and motets from Spain, Germany, and France. Our performers include The Cardinall’s Musick, Theatre of Voices, Cappella Romana, and Oltremontano.
**** FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12 ****
10am - Tinsel Tales 3: Even More NPR Christmas Favorites
repeats - Monday, 12/22 @10pm (Tue 5a rpt)
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the third collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. Audie Cornish, Ken Harbaugh, Nina Totenberg and other voices from NPR's past and present tell stories of the season in this hour-long special. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. You might recognize them from our broadcast archives — or you might fall in love with them for the first time. Hosted by Lynn Neary
11am - Festivo AltLatino with Gaby Moreno & Friends
NPR Music’s Alt.Latino presents an encore featuring songwriter/performer Gaby Moreno and her band performing tracks from her popular holiday album Posada - recorded live at the KUT studios in Austin, Texas. She was joined by special guests Gina Chavez and Chicano Zen bandleader and record producer Michael Ramos. Hosted by Felix Contreras.
3pm - A World Cafe Holiday
World Cafe celebrated 30 years by revisiting special holiday performances from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Los Lobos, Andrew Bird, The Bird and The Bee, Pink Martini, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and more. Hosted by Raina Douris, this musical gift will provide a full hour of hip holiday cheer.
8pm – Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
repeats - Tuesday, 12/16 @1pm
Tune in to Peninsula Performances for a holiday celebration featuring the Marquette Choral Society’s “Winter Delights” concert. Hear John Rutter’s Magnificat and other choral works recorded live at NMU, plus more seasonal favorites to brighten your winter. (Rebroadcast from 2024)
11pm - A Night Lights Wonderland
This edition of Night Lights brings you jazzy holiday tidings from Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Emily Remler, Vince Guaraldi, Kay Starr, and others as we celebrate the season with classic jazz that invokes festive spirits, magical outings, and, of course, snow. Christmas pop quiz: what were the original titles for holiday standards "Snowfall" and "Silver Bells"?
**** SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 ****
4pm - A Very Shuffled Holiday Special 2025
repeats - Monday, 12/15 @2pm
Celebrate the season with A Very Shuffled Holiday Special 2025! Host Kurt Hauswirth presents original and reimagined holiday songs from local and regional musicians. Enjoy fresh takes on familiar favorites and new winter-inspired recordings.
8pm - Juke in the Back: Juke Christmas Party!
repeats - Sunday, 12/14 @ 6am
Christmas, like you've never heard it before. This year, the "Juke In The Back" cordially invites you to join us at Rosie's Juke Joint for an intimate Christmas Celebration. Miss Rosie, Bobby The Bobcat and of course, Matt The Cat will be there to make your yuletide bright and present an hour of Christmas tunes that have never been spun before on a "Juke In The Back" holiday program. So freshen up your ears with a solid batch of hep, cool and groovy holiday records as you join Rosie's Juke Joint for a jumpin' Christmas Party!
**** SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14th ****
6am - Juke in the Back: Juke Christmas Party!
Christmas, like you've never heard it before. This year, the "Juke In The Back" cordially invites you to join us at Rosie's Juke Joint for an intimate Christmas Celebration. Miss Rosie, Bobby The Bobcat and of course, Matt The Cat will be there to make your yuletide bright and present an hour of Christmas tunes that have never been spun before on a "Juke In The Back" holiday program. So freshen up your ears with a solid batch of hep, cool and groovy holiday records as you join Rosie's Juke Joint for a jumpin' Christmas Party!
3pm - Holiday Jazz with Dee Alexander
repeats - Monday, 12/15 @11pm
Treat your listeners to a holiday set by Chicago’s First Lady of Jazz Dee Alexander recorded live at the WFMT studios! Dee Alexander brings all her warmth, charm, luscious voice and exquisite technique to this special for the WFMT Radio Network. Accompanied by her trio, Dee takes us on a musical holiday journey through such beloved standards as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Coventry Carol,” and cherished spirituals inspired by Chicago gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. It’s an hour you’ll be proud to share!
10pm - Folktale of Father Christmas
repeats - Tuesday, 12/23 @10pm (Wed 5a rpt)
Ho Ho Ho! “Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles”--and this edition of Folktales, it’s everyone’s favorite ‘jolly old elfl’ we’re tracking—around the musical globe!
**** MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 ****
10am - Hanukkah Lights 2025
This NPR favorite returns with new stories plus gems from the archive. Hosted by Murray Horwitz with Susan Stamberg.
11am - A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago a cappella
Join Jonathan Miller, founding artistic director of Chicago a cappella and a longtime champion of Jewish choral music, for an inspiring and informative show featuring choral music set to Chanukah texts. Familiar tunes include "I Have a Little Dreidel" (both in its original Yiddish form and in a neo-funk Hebrew/English setting), a swing version of "S'vivon" by Steve Barnett, and a lively setting of the traditional melody for "Al-Hanissim" ("For the Miracles") by Elliot Levine. Heartfelt original compositions by American and British composers provide added depth of expression to celebrating the holiday. Such works include "Lo Yisa Goy," a plea for peace by Stacy Garrop; Bob Applebaum's stirring version of "Haneirot Halalu;" and movements from the majestic "Hallel Suite" by London-based Daniel Tunkel. All selections are performed by the virtuoso vocal ensemble Chicago a cappella. Jonathan Miller provides liturgical and cultural background as part of this unique look inside old and newer choral Chanukah traditions.
2pm - A Very Shuffled Holiday Special 2025
Celebrate the season with A Very Shuffled Holiday Special 2025! Host Kurt Hauswirth presents original and reimagined holiday songs from local and regional musicians. Enjoy fresh takes on familiar favorites and new winter-inspired recordings.
11pm - Holiday Jazz with Dee Alexander
Treat your listeners to a holiday set by Chicago’s First Lady of Jazz Dee Alexander recorded live at the WFMT studios! Dee Alexander brings all her warmth, charm, luscious voice and exquisite technique to this special for the WFMT Radio Network. Accompanied by her trio, Dee takes us on a musical holiday journey through such beloved standards as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Coventry Carol,” and cherished spirituals inspired by Chicago gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. It’s an hour you’ll be proud to share!
**** TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 ****
10am - Candles Burning Brightly
A delightful hour for everyone to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights! Lots of music from Jewish communities around the world, plus a hilarious lesson on how to prepare a classic Chanukah dish, and a timeless and touching holiday story that brings light into every home. Encore from 2024
11am - Itzhak Perlman’s Chanukah Radio Party
Itzhak Perlman invites you to his Chanukah Radio Party. Join the superstar violinist as he tells the story of the Jewish festival of lights, and shares his favorite recordings for the holiday – some serious, some silly. This engaging one-hour special includes numbers from Itzhak Perlman’s radio-addicted childhood in Israel; evocative songs in Yiddish and Ladino; classical music that revolves around the Maccabee heroes of the story; and Chanukah gems by American folk singers. The master storyteller also regales you with jokes and memories, plus tales of three classic Chanukah symbols: the menorah, the latke, and, of course, the dreidel. A good time for the whole family, at Itzhak Perlman’s Chanukah Radio Party!
1pm – Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
Tune in to Peninsula Performances for a holiday celebration featuring the Marquette Choral Society’s “Winter Delights” concert. Hear John Rutter’s Magnificat and other choral works recorded live at NMU, plus more seasonal favorites to brighten your winter. (Rebroadcast from 2024)
3pm - Cruisin’ the Blues with Mr Jack: Christmas Blues
Hey! That’s what it is! Mr. Jack shares some old and new Christmas Blues with you!
**** WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 ****
10am - Here We Come A-Caroling
A capella group Note-Riety on challenging social pressures - Flory Jagoda on keeping Sephardic singing alive - A big night for bagpipes and a military marching band - A poet, a historian, a conductor, and a vocalist share their favorite Christmas classics
11am - Jonathan Winters’ A Christmas Carol
repeats - Wednesday, 12/24 @10pm (Thu 5a rpt)
An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy. From NPR and KCRW.
3pm - Santa's Greatest Hits
Steve Jencks hosts this trip down Memory Lane featuring Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, Eartha Kitt, Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Bob Dylan, Dinah Washington, Louis Prima, Mel Torme, Mitch Miller, Tex Beneke, June Christy, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Included is a brief history of Santa Claus.
**** THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 ****
10am - An Afro Blue Christmas
repeats - Tuesday, 12/30 @11am
Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Hear the a-cappella group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire. The joyous celebration includes one of a kind arrangements on traditional holiday songs plus new compositions…music perfect for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. Hosted by Michele Norris.
11am - Carols, Customs and Candlelight: A Celtic Christmas Collection
repeats - Wednesday, 12/31 @11am
The Celtic lands of Northwestern Europe have an especially rich musical heritage, and many Christmas songs and carols come from places like Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and other Celtic nations. Listen as host Andrea Blain explores music and customs that have roots in ancient winter celebrations and traditional Christmas festivals. The music features classical ensembles and soloists like Apollo’s Fire and Bryn Terfel, as well as traditional instruments like harp, fiddle and mandolin. Lots of well-known Christmas music comes from the Celtic tradition, and some very beautiful but lesser-known festive music. Encore from 2024
**** FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19TH ****
10am - In Winter’s Glow
A winter solstice program, with modern classical sounds for the longest night of the year, chosen especially to complement the chilly, starry nights of the season.
11am - The Spanish Hour: An Early Music Christmas from Spain & Mexico
Renaissance and baroque Christmas music from Spain and Mexico.
3pm - A Special Thistle & Shamrock Christmas
repeats - Sunday, 12/21 @10pm
Join Fiona Ritchie for a winter walk along the banks of the River Tay in Scotland, accompanied by music from the Celtic Christmas repertoire. Among restored riverside woodlands, Fiona finds her favorite bench, and sits there to reflect upon the scenes of midwinter. The location inspires seasonal tales, joyful songs, and tunes of rare beauty, with guitarist Tim Edey, singer Emily Smith, and more.
8pm - Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
repeats - Tuesday, 12/23 @1pm
Celebrate the season with the Marquette Choral Society as Public Radio 90 broadcasts their 2025 winter concert, Hallelujah! Highlights from “Messiah” by G.F. Handel. Enjoy selections from Handel, Elaine Hagenberg, Morten Lauridsen, Ryan Nowlin, Arvo Pärt, and Dobrinka Tabakova.
11pm - A Paul Winter Solstice
This year, Solstice Live! warms up the longest night of the year with a taste of the tropics. This one-hour Winter Solstice special brings a starry array of Brazilian guests, including Ivan Lins, Renato Braz, and Luciana Souza, with the Paul Winter Consort at the annual solstice concerts in New York’s Cathedral of St John the Divine. John Schaefer hosts. (from 2023)
**** SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 ****
4pm - All Songs Considered for the Holiday
repeats - Monday, 12/22 @2pm
Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson set off on another adventure in their annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages. This year, we’ve got a very tolerable mix of songs for the season and, as always, some very special guests.
8pm - A Very Blues Christmas
repeats - Sunday, 12/21 @6am
Holiday blues tunes from the Public Radio 90 library
**** SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 ****
3pm - Jazz Piano Christmas
repeats - Monday, 12/22 @11pm
This year we present a very special ‘Best Of’ program, featuring some of our favorite jazz-infused piano renditions of the season’s most-loved music. Veteran host and jazz critic Felix Contreras will hand pick his favorite performances from the rich catalog of cherished Jazz Piano Christmas concerts.
10pm - A Special Thistle & Shamrock Christmas
Join Fiona Ritchie for a winter walk along the banks of the River Tay in Scotland, accompanied by music from the Celtic Christmas repertoire. Among restored riverside woodlands, Fiona finds her favorite bench, and sits there to reflect upon the scenes of midwinter. The location inspires seasonal tales, joyful songs, and tunes of rare beauty, with guitarist Tim Edey, singer Emily Smith, and more.
**** MONDAY, DECEMBER 22 ****
10am - A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble
This holiday program features over two centuries of festive Christmas dances and songs from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City.
11am - Tinsel Tales 2: More NPR Christmas Favorites
NPR fills millions of homes each holiday with humor, warmth, and a host of festive voices. Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
2pm - All Songs Considered for the Holiday
Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson set off on another adventure in their annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages. This year, we’ve got a very tolerable mix of songs for the season and, as always, some very special guests.
3pm - A Hawaiian Christmas with Slack Key Master Kapono Beamer(30-minutes)
Enjoy the magic of a Hawaiian Christmas with slack key master Kapono Beamer, sharing tales of his family's holiday traditions and rich musical legacy. Heidi Chang hosts this half-hour music special.
10pm - Tinsel Tales 3: Even More NPR Christmas Favorites
repeats - Tuesday, 12/23 @5am
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the third collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. Audie Cornish, Ken Harbaugh, Nina Totenberg and other voices from NPR's past and present tell stories of the season in this hour-long special. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. You might recognize them from our broadcast archives — or you might fall in love with them for the first time. Hosted by Lynn Neary
11pm - Jazz Piano Christmas
This year we present a very special ‘Best Of’ program, featuring some of our favorite jazz-infused piano renditions of the season’s most-loved music. Veteran host and jazz critic Felix Contreras will hand pick his favorite performances from the rich catalog of cherished Jazz Piano Christmas concerts.
**** TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 ****
10am - A Handel & Haydn Society Christmas
Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society
11am - Apollo’s Fire presents Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain: An Irish-Appalachian Celebration
repeat - Wednesday, 12/31 @10am
Listeners are transported from Christmas Eve in medieval Scotland to the folk carols and shape‐note hymns at a toe‐tapping Christmas gathering in Virginia in this spectacular special sharing the spirit and history of Appalachia’s Irish and Scottish roots through music. Apollo’s Fire is a Grammy‐award winning period‐instrument orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. Your hosts are Apollo’s Fire Artistic Director, conductor and harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell and WFMT’s Candice Agree.
1pm - Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
Celebrate the season with the Marquette Choral Society as Public Radio 90 broadcasts their 2025 winter concert, Hallelujah! Highlights from “Messiah” by G.F. Handel. Enjoy selections from Handel, Elaine Hagenberg, Morten Lauridsen, Ryan Nowlin, Arvo Pärt, and Dobrinka Tabakova.
3pm - The Red Jacket Jamboree Christmas Special
Gather the family around the radio for an old fashioned holiday show featuring Michigan's father and son guitar virtuosos -Younce Guitar Duo and singer/songwriter Robin Lee Berry. Hosted by Lena Dorey and Martin Achatz, The Red Jacket Jamboree shares songs, stories, history and music from Michigan's copper country and beyond. This episode was recorded in December 2018 at the Calumet Theatre.
10pm - Folktale of Father Christmas
repeats – Wednesday @5am
Ho Ho Ho! “Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles”--and this edition of Folktales, it’s everyone’s favorite ‘jolly old elfl’ we’re tracking—around the musical globe!
**** WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 ****
10am - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols – LIVE (2 hours)
Since 1918, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has offered listeners an opportunity to share in a live, worldwide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of biblical readings, carols and related seasonal classical music. This special event is presented by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, one of the world’s foremost choirs of men and boys, and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the college’s 500-year-old chapel.
3pm - Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Gift to Jazz
repeats - Friday, 12/26 @10pm
Vince Guaraldi's music to A Charlie Brown Christmas ushers in the sound of the holidays for jazz fans as well as Charlie Brown fans. Songs like "Linus and Lucy," "Skating" and "Christmas Time Is Here" have become holiday classics and have inspired many a jazz player. Jana Lee Ross will explore interpretations of Vince Guaraldi's tunes by Cyrus Chestnut, Dianne Reeves, David Benoit and others, and of course we'll hear from Vince Guaraldi himself.
10pm - Jonathan Winters’ A Christmas Carol
repeats - Thursday, 12/25 @5am
An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy. From NPR and KCRW.
**** THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 ****
5am - Jonathan Winters’ A Christmas Carol
An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy. From NPR and KCRW.
6am - Welcome Christmas
Welcome Christmas is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral ensembles, conducted by Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz. Join host Bonnie North for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries.
7am - St. Olaf Christmas Festival (2 hours)
repeats - Monday, 12/30 @10am-noon
A service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
9am - Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
repeats Thursday, 12/25 @8pm
One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.
10am - A Chanticleer Christmas
repeats - Tuesday, 12/30 @10am
Grammy award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is known as the “orchestra of voices” for its unparalleled range and abilities. This holiday season, the group brings its brand-new Christmas program including original arrangements of well-known tunes drawn from Classical, Jazz, and Popular traditions. They fluently weave between diverse musical styles to create an evening of wonder and joy.
11am - A Choral Christmas with Stile Antico
Celebrate Christmas with the sound of soaring voices. Stile Antico, the award-winning choir from London, pays a visit to St. Paul's Church on Harvard Square for a concert of radiant sacred music for the Christmas season by the most acclaimed composers of the renaissance. Hear the group's luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Hosted by Cathy Fuller of WGBH.
3pm - Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites
repeats - @10pm & Thursday, 12/26 @5am
This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk -- these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
8pm - Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.
10pm - Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites
repeats - Thursday, 12/26 @5am
This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk -- these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
**** FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26 ****
5am - Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites
This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk -- these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
10am - Wind & Rhythm: Jingle Them
Emmy Award winner Julie Giroux worked in Hollywood for years and her credits are formidable. When she thought of giving Christmas gifts to the high rollers in the film and television industry, she came up with a unique approach... she wrote Christmas carol arrangements, just for them. It became a Hollywood tradition and now it is becoming a wind band holiday tradition, too! Of course, lots of people have written and arranged Christmas carols... but, not like this.
11am - Tinsel Tales 4: NPR Christmas Stories Told Thru Song
NPR revisits interviews with musicians about their Christmas albums. Some, like Katie Melua and Sting, celebrate tradition and winter mystery in their Christmas songs. Others, like Kenny Rogers and Amy Grant, find spirituality and stability in holiday music. Jon Batiste and Anthony Hamilton bring new energy to old favorites on their Christmas albums. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
3pm - The Sounds of Kwanzaa
The Sounds of Kwanzaa with Garrett McQueen
8pm - Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
repeats - Tuesday, 12/30 @1pm
Host Kurt Hauswirth presents a special broadcast of the Marquette Choral Society’s 2022 return to the Kaufman Auditorium for Carols and Lullabies. The choir will perform Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” followed by “Carols and Lullabies-Christmas in the Southwest” by Conrad Susa. (Rebroadcast from 2022)
10pm - Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Gift to Jazz
Vince Guaraldi's music to A Charlie Brown Christmas ushers in the sound of the holidays for jazz fans as well as Charlie Brown fans. Songs like "Linus and Lucy," "Skating" and "Christmas Time Is Here" have become holiday classics and have inspired many a jazz player. Jana Lee Ross will explore interpretations of Vince Guaraldi's tunes by Cyrus Chestnut, Dianne Reeves, David Benoit and others, and of course we'll hear from Vince Guaraldi himself.
11pm - Jingle Bell Jazz
Ho Ho Ho! Start out your holiday with fun Christmas Jazz Classics. They are all here in one solid hour. This musical holiday program includes: "Winter Wonderland", "Jingle Bells", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Little Drummer Boy" plus others. Jingle Bell Jazz all the way today on Jazztime.
**** SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 ****
4pm - The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special
repeats - Monday, 12/29 @2pm
Celebrate the season with amazing holiday performances from The Tiny Desk Concert series including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Steve Martin, Hanson, The Polyphonic Spree and more! Hosted by NPR Music frenemies Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson.
**** SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 ****
3pm - Joy To The World – A Holiday in Pink
The internationally acclaimed “little orchestra" Pink Martini bedecks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from across the globe. From timeless classics to rarely heard gems, hear a multi-denominational, multi-cultural jubilee, overflowing with enough holiday spirit to warm your entire family. Hosted by Ari Shapiro.
**** MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 ****
10am - St. Olaf Christmas Festival (2 hours)
A service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.
2pm - The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special
Celebrate the season with amazing holiday performances from The Tiny Desk Concert series including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Steve Martin, Hanson, The Polyphonic Spree and more! Hosted by NPR Music frenemies Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson.
10pm - A Celtic Christmas
repeats - Tuesday, 12/30 @5am
An hour-long holiday special featuring Irish storyteller Tomáseen Foley and his charming tale "Parcel from America." The program also features music from guitarist William Coulter, fiddler Deby Benton Grojean, and piper Todd Denman, as well as songs from Moira Smiley.
11pm - A Swinging Jaz Party with Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis hosts an hour of holiday jazz favorites by Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gregory Porter, René Marie, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
**** TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30 ****
10am - A Chanticleer Christmas
Grammy award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is known as the “orchestra of voices” for its unparalleled range and abilities. This holiday season, the group brings its brand-new Christmas program including original arrangements of well-known tunes drawn from Classical, Jazz, and Popular traditions. They fluently weave between diverse musical styles to create an evening of wonder and joy.
11am - An Afro Blue Christmas
Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Hear the a-cappella group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire. The joyous celebration includes one of a kind arrangements on traditional holiday songs plus new compositions…music perfect for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. Hosted by Michele Norris.
1pm - Peninsula Performances – Holiday Special
Host Kurt Hauswirth presents a special broadcast of the Marquette Choral Society’s 2022 return to the Kaufman Auditorium for Carols and Lullabies. The choir will perform Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” followed by “Carols and Lullabies-Christmas in the Southwest” by Conrad Susa. (Rebroadcast from 2022)
3pm - Soul Christmas
Here are some great soul and R&B holiday winter classics. You will hear Christmas tunes from James Brown, Otis Reading, The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, and more.
10pm - A 40s Radio Christmas
repeats - Wednesday, 12/31 @5am
Christmas programs on the radio in the 1940s ranged from variety shows, to dramas, to comedies. All of them contained a generous portion of music from swing to sentimental to religious.
**** WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31 ****
10am - Apollo’s Fire presents Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain: An Irish-Appalachian Celebration
Listeners are transported from Christmas Eve in medieval Scotland to the folk carols and shape‐note hymns at a toe‐tapping Christmas gathering in Virginia in this spectacular special sharing the spirit and history of Appalachia’s Irish and Scottish roots through music. Apollo’s Fire is a Grammy‐award winning period‐instrument orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. Your hosts are Apollo’s Fire Artistic Director, conductor and harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell and WFMT’s Candice Agree.
11am - Carols, Customs and Candlelight: A Celtic Christmas Collection
The Celtic lands of Northwestern Europe have an especially rich musical heritage, and many Christmas songs and carols come from places like Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and other Celtic nations. Listen as host Andrea Blain explores music and customs that have roots in ancient winter celebrations and traditional Christmas festivals. The music features classical ensembles and soloists like Apollo’s Fire and Bryn Terfel, as well as traditional instruments like harp, fiddle and mandolin. Lots of well-known Christmas music comes from the Celtic tradition, and some very beautiful but lesser-known festive music. Encore from 2024
3pm - The Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy – 1927 New Year’s Eve Bash
1927 - What a Year! The world was shrinking faster than anyone predicted: Lindbergh flew the Atlantic that spring. The first transatlantic phone connect was made just 7 days into the New Year. Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs (a record that stood for over 30-years), and the first “talkie” (motion picture with sound) was released starring Al Jolson, The Jazz Singer.
10pm - Toast of the Nation (4 hours)
An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is the perfect audio complement for the occasion. It's festive jazz you can party to, all night long. With this flexible format, 4 hours of music can start at any time during the day or night. The rundown will be easy to program with 59 minute blocks to start at the top of any hour. Feel free to play any and all segments at a time that's convenient for your station. There won't be midnight countdowns but the show will still sound live and in the moment with *Happy*New*Year messaging heard throughout. Artists TBA soon. Hosted by Christian McBride.
**** THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 ****
5am - The Sound of Cinnamon
repeats - Thursday, @8pm
What does hygge mean to you? Maybe it means friendship, laughter, or more concrete things like warmth, light, seasonal food and drink. It might make you think of sitting by the fire on a cold winter night, wearing your favorite oversized sweater, reading a book, and sipping cinnamon tea. In the special, "The Sound of Cinnamon," Jake Armerding invites you to experience coziness and contentment with a hygge soundtrack perfect for finding your favorite pair of slippers and putting your feet up.
10am - Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin
Winter holidays are celebrated around the world with music wonderful to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe. Celebrated educator, performer, conductor, composer and host of the WFMT Radio Network’s Exploring Music, Bill McGlaughlin gathers this spirited selection that starts in the 12th century with “Nova Stella,” medieval Italian Christmas music from Saint Francis of Assisi’s staging of the nativity; jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s classical composition “La Fiesta de la Posada,” evoking a Mexican Christmas celebration; and Vaughan Williams' “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” We will enjoy this time of year in Paris with music from Debussy, and then travel to Polynesia for a traditional hymn, “Anau Oia Ea,” and ending with an excerpt from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production. Turn on your radio, pour a cup of tea, cozy up to a warm fire, and enjoy the music!
11am - New Year's Day From Vienna 2025-- LIVE (2 hours)
The ever popular annual New Year’s Day Concert will be performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Yannick Nezet-Seguim in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.
8pm - The Sound of Cinnamon
Thursday, 1/1 @5am & 8pm
What does hygge mean to you? Maybe it means friendship, laughter, or more concrete things like warmth, light, seasonal food and drink. It might make you think of sitting by the fire on a cold winter night, wearing your favorite oversized sweater, reading a book, and sipping cinnamon tea. In the special, "The Sound of Cinnamon," Jake Armerding invites you to experience coziness and contentment with a hygge soundtrack perfect for finding your favorite pair of slippers and putting your feet up.
