© 2025 WNMU-FM
90.1 WNMU-FM / 91.9 Manistique / 96.5 Escanaba / 97.9 Stephenson
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Support Today
Holiday Programs

*** FRIDAY, 12/20 ***
 

10am - In Winter’s Glow

A winter solstice program, with modern classical sounds for the longest night of the year, chosen especially to compliment the chilly, starry nights of the season.
 

11am - Festivo AltLatino with Cantigas

NPR Music's Alt.Latino presents the 2014 edition of Festivo Alt.Latino -- a special holiday concert featuring the 20 piece choral ensemble Choral Cantigas. This musical performance also includes stories about holiday traditions and cultures. Hear a traditional Peruvian Christmas carol, folk music from Brazil, Spain, and Mexico plus Parrandas from Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The many rich styles of Latino choral music will unite listeners through the joyful and trans-formative power of music. Hosted by Felix Contreras.

 
3pm - 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.

 

8pm - Peninsula Performances - Marquette Choral Society’s “Winter Delights”

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.

 

11pm - A Night Studio Christmas

A holiday edition of Public Radio 90’s long running jazz program

 

*** SATURDAY, 12/21 ***

 

4pm - All Songs Considered for the Holiday

 

8pm - A Very Blues Christmas
Holiday blues tunes from the Public Radio 90 library

 

*** SUNDAY, 12/22 ***

6am - A Very Blues Christmas
Holiday blues tunes from the Public Radio 90 library

 

3pm - Jazz Piano Christmas 40

Your favorite holiday classics as you’ve never heard them! The Kennedy Center and NPR present A Jazz Piano Christmas, the annual sell-out event featuring jazz-infused renditions of the season’s most-loved music. This year, we spotlight remarkable pianist, vocalist, and actress Melvis Santa—whose eclectic Afro-Cuban style has made her one of the most electrifying artists on the scene—in addition to internationally acclaimed Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. Hosted by Felix Contreras

 
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, 12/23 ***

 

10am - Three Tales of Christmas with Cantus

In Christmas with Cantus, Cantus weaves together three holiday stories with time-honored carols and new classics. Blending narration and song, the program features Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Christine Lê’s The Hawai’i Snowman, alongside Mark Twain’s “A Letter from Santa Claus,” offering an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and joy of the holiday season.

 

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.

 

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 - Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Gift to Jazz

Host Jana Lee Ross presents a special filled with warm-hearted sounds to bring together everyone in the family. 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 - Jazz Piano Christmas 40

Your favorite holiday classics as you’ve never heard them! The Kennedy Center and NPR present A Jazz Piano Christmas, the annual sell-out event featuring jazz-infused renditions of the season’s most-loved music. This year, we spotlight remarkable pianist, vocalist, and actress Melvis Santa—whose eclectic Afro-Cuban style has made her one of the most electrifying artists on the scene—in addition to internationally acclaimed Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. Hosted by Felix Contreras

 

*** TUESDAY, 12/24 ***

5am - Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Gift to Jazz

Host Jana Lee Ross presents a special filled with warm-hearted sounds to bring together everyone in the family. 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.

 

10am - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols – LIVE   (2-hours)

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols presents your audience with an opportunity to share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music. This special will be presented by one of the world’s foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.

1pm - Peninsula Performances - Marquette Choral Society's Winter Delights

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.

 

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

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 – CHRISTMAS DAY ***

5am - A 40s Radio Christmas

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.

 

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, including including the world premiere of three beloved Latvian carols by composer Ēriks Ešenvalds.

 
7am - St Olaf Christmas Festival 2024: Celebrating 150 Years of St Olaf College (2-hours)

For one and a half centuries, St. Olaf has been a hub of connections, knowledge, and growth. And for more than a century, the St. Olaf Christmas festival has been a cherished part of that history. Join us as we celebrate their legacy.

 

9am - 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.

 
10am - A Chanticleer Christmas

The beloved, Grammy-winning men’s chorus brings its “rich, intricately blended sound” (The Washington Post) to its signature holiday celebration. The centuries-spanning program ranges from Renaissance masterworks to roof-raising spirituals.

 
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 at 10pm

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. (repeats Thursday at 5am)

 

*** THURSDAY, 12/26 ***

10am - Hanukkah Lights 2022

This NPR favorite returns with some of our favorite stories from the archives. We’ll hear “Gifts of the Last Night” by Rebecca Goldstein, “Hanukkah Gelt, Hanukkah Money” by Sholem Aleichem, “Gifts of the Jewish Magi” by Allegra Goodman, How to Spell the Name of God” by Ellen Orleans and “Geek Week by Rebecca O’Connell.

 

11am - A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago a cappella

Join Jonathan Miller, artistic director of Chicago a cappella and 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 new version of “Haneirot Halalu”; and movements from the majestic “Hallel Suite” by London-based Daniel Tunkel. Jonathan Miller provides liturgical and cultural background as part of this unique look inside old and newer choral Chanukah traditions.

 
3pm - The Sounds of Kwanzaa
The Sounds of Kwanzaa with Garrett McQueen

 

*** FRIDAY, 12/27 ***

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.

 

11am - Chanukah Memories & Melodies

Six prominent artists share memories of Chanukah, and the music the holiday brings to mind. From soothing to surprising, from reverent to rowdy, their musical choices will inspire and delight you. With Broadway actress Tovah Feldshuh, social entrepreneur Aaron Dworkin, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Sephardic music virtuoso Daphna Mor, conductor Eric Jacobsen, and Yiddish music maven Henry Sapoznik. Hosted by WQXR's Elliott Forrest.

 

3pm - A 40s Radio Christmas

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.

 

8pm - Peninsula Performances - Marquette Choral Society: Gloria (’21)

The Marquette Choral Society’s 2021 annual Christmas masterworks concert, featuring Ottorino Respighi's Lauda per la Nativita del Signore ("Laud to the Nativity of the Lord") and Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Noel ("Midnight Mass").

 
11pm - A Latin Jazz Christmas Experience

"Ho ho ho," A mixture of Mambo, Rhumba, Latin Jazz and fun in this blend of "Christmas Season" arrangements all in this musical presentation.

 
*** SATURDAY, 12/28 ***

4pm - 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.

 
*** SUNDAY, 12/29 ***
 

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 All Things Considered’s Ari Shapiro.

 

10pm - A Cowboy Christmas

A musical and poetic celebration of Christmas from the open ranges of America's outback.

 

*** MONDAY, 12/30 ***

St. Olaf Christmas Festival 2024: Celebrating 150 Years of St Olaf College (2-hours)

For one and a half centuries, St. Olaf has been a hub of connections, knowledge, and growth. And for more than a century, the St. Olaf Christmas festival has been a cherished part of that history. Join us as we celebrate their legacy.

 
11pm - Christmas Dreaming

Jazz vocals for Christmas by singers new and familiar

 

*** TUESDAY, 12/31 ***

 

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.

 
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. Hosted by Christian McBride.

 
*** WEDNESDAY, 1/1 ***

11am - New Year's Day From Vienna 2024  -- LIVE (2-hours)

The ever popular annual New Year’s Day Concert will be performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Riccardo Muti in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. Hosted by WBUR's Lisa Mullins.