2024 Holiday Program Schedule

We have a special line-up of programs for you this holiday season with songs, carols, and stories for Christmas. Plus music and stories for Hannukuah and Kwanzaa… and music that welcomes the Winter season.

Tuesday, 12/10/24 — 9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Carols, Customs and Candlelight: A Celtic Christmas Celebration (APM)
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.

Wednesday, 12/11/24 — 9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Chanticleer Christmas (APM)
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.

Thursday, 12/12/24 — 9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Carols As Home with the Imani Winds (APM)
Carols as Home features a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today.

Friday, 12/13/24 — 9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

All is Bright (APM)
All Is Bright offers an hour of gorgeous, contemplative choral music that tells the traditional Christmas story with songs about angels, the star and the manger scene.

Saturday, 12/14/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

Acoustic Connections (WSHU)
The Holiday season is filled with anticipation and joy -- Christmas trees, Christmas lights, maybe a little December snow! It's all in the songs on this edition of AcousticConnections.

Sunday, 12/15/24 — 1-5 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Victorian Christmas with David Bouchier (WSHU)
Join David Bouchier for the annual Victorian Christmas Show — an afternoon of seasonal music and stories about the traditions, myths and entertainments of Christmas a century and more ago.

Monday, 12/16/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

Welcome Christmas! (APM)
An hour of joyful, classic holiday music from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups, singing traditional carols and new discoveries.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs (NPR)
The choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation, get together to present 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.

Tuesday, 12/17/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

An Afro Blue Christmas (NPR)
A very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere, a-cappela vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut. They perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Choral Christmas With Stile Antico (NPR)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.

Wednesday, 12/18/14 — 8-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

St. Olaf Christmas Festival (APM)
This festival began in 1911 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota as a simple service in word and song for students, faculty, friends and family. It has grown to include more than 500 student musicians who share their gifts with more than 12,000 audience members at the four live concerts, with sacred choral and instrumental music from many traditions: beloved hymns, classical masterworks, folk songs from around the world, and African-American spirituals.

Thursday, 12/19/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Handel & Haydn Society Christmas (PRX)
Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble (PRX)
This holiday program features over two centuries of festive Christmas dances and songs from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City.

Friday, 12/20/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas (PRX)
Mark O’Connor, famous bluegrass fiddler and respected American composer, leads the O’Connor Band and special guest Nancy Ives, principal cellist of the Oregon Symphony, in An Appalachian Christmas.

10-midnight

Profiles in Folk WSHU-FM, WSUF (WSHU)
TBD

Saturday, 12/21/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM, WSUF

Acoustic Connections (WSHU)
December 21st marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It's also the start of the winter season. The songs on AcousticConnections will observe the Winter Solstice, Christmas and Hanukkah ... and how the deepest darkness can be followed by new light.

Sunday, 12/22/24 — 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. WSHU-FM

Sunday Baroque (WSHU)
Make Sunday Baroque part of your Christmas celebrations when host Suzanne Bona brings carols that date back to the baroque era and earlier, joyful baroque Christmas Concertos, music inspired by the arrival of the Winter Solstice and engaging tidbits of holiday lore.

1-5 p.m. WSHU-FM

6-8 p.m. WSHU-FM, WSUF

An Echoes Christmas Concert with Trevor Gordon Hall (PRX)
We'll hear traditional carols and original seasonal songs from this finger-style guitarist who also plays a custom-designed instrument called the Kalimbatar, that combines the African kalimba with an acoustic guitar. The concert will also be surrounded by other seasonal tunes in a variety of styles.

8-10 p.m. WSHU-FM, WSUF

An Echoes Winter Solstice (PRX)
Get ready for the big chill on An Echoes Winter Solstice. John Diliberto has a soundscape of snow-shrouded trees, silent saguaro cacti and white-out conditions. It’s a winter fantasy with no Christmas carols, but a sleigh full of music taking you into the celestial and chilled side of the season.

11-midnight WSHU-FM, WSUF

In Winter’s Glow (APM)
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.

Monday, 12/23/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

YourClassical Christmas Favorites (APM)
Join us this holiday season as we count down the top Christmas songs as voted by you in a new hour-long special.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Festivo AltLatino with Cantigas (NPR)
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 transformative power of music. Hosted by Felix Contreras. 

Tuesday, 12/24/24 — 10 a.m. - noon WSHU-FM

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (APM)
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music, 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.

8-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (APM)

An encore presentation of the world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast, recorded live, of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal Classical music, 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.

Wednesday 12/25/24 — 8-9 a.m. WSHU-FM

Welcome Christmas! (APM)
An hour of joyful, classic holiday music from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups, singing traditional carols and new discoveries.

9-11 a.m. WSHU-FM

11 a.m.-noon WSHU-FM

Noon-2 p.m. WSHU-FM

Handel’s Messiah (WSHU)
WSHU’s Lauren Rico presents a wonderful performance of Handel’s Messiah with John Rutter conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cambridge Singers and soloists.

2-3 p.m. WSHU-FM

3-4 p.m. WSHU-FM

8-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Handel’s Messiah (WSHU)
WSHU’s Lauren Rico presents a wonderful performance of Handel’s Messiah with John Rutter conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cambridge Singers and soloists.

Thursday, 12/26/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

The Sounds of Kwanzaa (KVNO/PRX)
Host Garrett McQueen (Loki Karuna) offers a background on the history of Kwanzaa and its guiding principles, alongside musical selections that highlight the spirit of the celebration. The show features the compositions of Florence Price, Duke Ellington, Sean O’Loughlin, and special performances by Imani Winds.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

Hanukkah Lights (NPR)
This NPR favorite returns with the best of the best Hanukkah Lights stories plus a special musical performance by The LeeVees. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

Friday, 12/27/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

Candles Burning Brightly (APM)
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.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Thistle & Shamrock Christmas (NPR)
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.

10-midnight WSHU-FM, WSUF

Profiles in Folk (WSHU)
TBD

Saturday, 12/28/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM, WSUF

Acoustic Connections (WSHU)
As the New Year's Eve approaches, the songs on AcousticConnections describe some of the many ways people celebrate ringing out the old and ringing in the New Year.

Sunday, 12/29/24 — 6-8 p.m. WSHU-FM, WSUF

An Echoes Seasonal Soundscape (PRX)
We create a soundscape for the season. Original songs mix with carols as we play music inspired by the season in all its quiet majesty and interior warmth, including four tracks from the Twelve Days of Wayfarer seasonal singles.

8-10 p.m. WSHU-FM, WSUF

An Echoes Christmas (PRX)
It's a soundscape for that long winter’s nap. Hear traditional carols reinvented and new carols for the 21st century. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night with an Echoes Christmas.

Monday, 12/30/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

All is Bright (APM)
All Is Bright offers an hour of gorgeous, contemplative choral music that tells the traditional Christmas story with songs about angels, the star and the manger scene.

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Season’s Griot (PRX)
Hosted by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson, this annual one-hour special captures the tales and traditions of African American and African peoples. The show’s poet laureate, Beverly Fields Burnette, and other members of the Season’s Griot family return with familiar and favorite elements of Griot.

Tuesday, 12/31/24 — 8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago a cappella (WFMT/PRX)
Join Jonathan Miller, 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.

Wednesday, 1/1/25 — 11 a.m.-1 p.m. WSHU-FM

New Year's Day From Vienna 2025 (NPR)
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.

8-9 p.m. WSHU-FM

9-10 p.m. WSHU-FM

YourClassical Christmas Favorites (APM)
Join us this holiday season as we count down the top Christmas songs as voted by you in a new hour-long special.