Welcome to December, Vermont. It鈥檚 dark and cold, which makes it the perfect time to get cozy and festive with 开云体育鈥檚 lineup of holiday specials on radio and TV! Bookmark this post to know what's on all month.
Can鈥檛 get enough holiday music? Check out Music for the Season, our new streaming station dedicated exclusively to holiday music. Curated by our local 开云体育 Classical hosts, listen any time of day or night during the month of December to make your holiday activities even more joyful.
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Radio Holiday Specials
The following programs are listed by date and will air on either 开云体育鈥檚 main radio station or 开云体育 Classical, as noted. Find your station or listen live.
Las Posadas: Renaissance and Baroque Music from Mexico
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
This hour, we鈥檙e heralding the holiday season with an extended devotional prayer鈥攐r is it a party?鈥攃alled Las Posadas. This Mexican Christmas tradition dates back to the sixteenth century and is celebrated from December 16th through 24th. So, grab some tamales and churros and get ready to burst open the pi帽ata as we celebrate Las Posadas with music from Renaissance and Baroque Mexico. Then, we pop back over to Europe for our featured release Weihnachtshistorie. Manfred Cordes leads Weser-Renaissance Bremen in an album of Christmas music from Breslau, now Wroc艂aw Poland.
Christmas with Madrigalia 2024
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
This holiday season, the Rochester, NY chamber choir Madrigalia and their Artistic Director Cary Ratcliff return to public radio for Christmas with Madrigalia. The program celebrates the excitement and joy of the holiday season with traditional carols and anthems from around the world celebrating the Winter Solstice, Chanukah, Christmas, and the New Year.
Live Concert with the VSO Brass Quintet and Counterpoint Vocal Ensemble
Thursday, Dec. 12, noon, 开云体育 Classical
Put your holiday cheer into overdrive as we welcome the VSO Brass Quintet into Stetson Studio One for a live concert broadcast, previewing their statewide tour. James Stewart hosts, festive fun awaits us all!
Carols, Customs and Candlelight: a Celtic Christmas Celebration
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 8 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
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鈥檚 Fire and Bryn Terfel, as well as traditional instruments like harp, fiddle and mandolin.
Vermont Edition鈥檚 Annual Music Show
Friday, Dec. 20, 12-2 p.m., 开云体育
Join 开云体育's Mikaela Lefrak and Jon Ehrens for two hours of your favorite music from the year!
开云体育鈥檚 Solstice Show
Saturday, Dec. 21, 6 p.m.,开云体育
Join us for a live call-in program celebrating the winter solstice. Join 开云体育鈥檚 Jane Lindholm with Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium director Mark Breen as they guide us through the astronomy of the solstice.
The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice 2024
Sunday, Dec. 22, 6 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
Christmas Revels performances have been described as entertaining collections of country, ritual and courtly dances, wassails, carols, songs and ballads, spirituals, hymns and anthems, story-telling, poetry and drama. They are made up of sacred and secular folk materials, plus some composed popular and "art" music, from traditional European, Middle Eastern, Asian and American celebrations of Advent, Chanukah, Las Posadas, Christmas, the Feast of Fools, New Year's, Twelfth Night, Epiphany/Old Christmas, and other end-of-the-year festivals, along with various cultures' hereditary observances of the Winter Solstice, some elements of which date back to pre-Christian times.
Favor Johnson
Tuesday, Dec. 24, during the 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. hours, 开云体育
Join us for a favorite holiday tradition with Willem Lange鈥檚 Favor Johnson. A Christmas classic about a hound named Hercules, Doc Jennings, homemade fruitcake and the real spirit of Christmas. Listen anytime to the story here.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m., 开云体育 Classical
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鈥檚 foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge, England.
A Christmas Carol with Willam Lange
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., 开云体育
Join us for Willem Lange's classic reading of Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Tinsel Tales 4: Stories of the Season Told Through Music
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., 开云体育
For many of us, Christmas is about family and traditions. For others it's a stressful or even a sad time. No matter how good or bad your holiday is, it鈥檚 quite likely to include music. This year, Tinsel Tales includes stories of the season told thru music with interviews from the NPR Archives. Kenny Rogers, Katie Melua, Sting, Amy Grant and Jon Batiste talk about the power of music at Christmas. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
Mark O鈥機onnor鈥檚 An Appalachian Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 8 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
Mark O鈥機onnor, famous bluegrass fiddler and respected American composer, leads the O鈥機onnor Band and special guest Nancy Ives, principal cellist of the Oregon Symphony, in An Appalachian Christmas . Hear holiday favorites including 鈥淭he Cherry Tree Carol,鈥� 鈥淲e Wish You a Merry Christmas,鈥� 鈥淐arol of the Bells,鈥� and more! Plus, Mark O鈥機onnor talks about the importance of fiddling in the development of early American music.
Hanukkah Lights
Thursday, Dec. 26, 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., 开云体育
This NPR favorite returns with some of our favorite stories from the archives. We鈥檒l hear 鈥淕ifts of the Last Night鈥� by Rebecca Goldstein, 鈥淗anukkah Gelt, Hanukkah Money鈥� by Sholem Aleichem, 鈥淕ifts of the Jewish Magi鈥� by Allegra Goodman, How to Spell the Name of God鈥� by Ellen Orleans and 鈥淕eek Week by Rebecca O鈥機onnell.
The Sounds of Kwanzaa
Thursday, Dec. 26, 3 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
During the aftermath of the Watts Uprisings in the 1960s, Dr. Maulana Karenga decided to create a special December holiday designed for Black people to celebrate themselves, their culture, and their future liberation. Today, Kwanzaa is still celebrated by not only Afro-Americans, but Black people around the globe! In this broadcast, Garrett McQueen 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鈥橪oughlin, and special performances by Imani Winds.
Holiday Local Music Sampler with Mary Engisch
Friday, Dec. 27 at 12 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m.
From traditional carols and original songs about egg nog, holiday stress, snow-filled Vermont nights, and New Year's Eve, it's time for 开云体育's annual local holiday music show.
Toast of the Nation
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 11 p.m.- 5 a.m., 开云体育
Every New Year's Eve since the 70's, NPR has brought the party to you, with festive jazz to ring in the New Year.
New Year's Day Live From Vienna
Wednesday, January 1, 11 a.m., 开云体育 Classical
The 2025 Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert takes place on January 1, 2025, under the baton of Maestro Riccardo Muti in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna.
Chanukkah: In Story and Song
Wednesday, January 1, 8 p.m., 开云体育 Classical
The acclaimed vocal sextet The Western Wind and renowned actor Leonard Nimoy present 25 eclectic selections, from the Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews and Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe to modern Israeli tunes and their original version of 鈥淚 Have a Little Dreydle.鈥� The singers sing a cappella and are also joined by instruments on violin, accordion, bass and guitar. The narration written by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik sheds light on the holiday customs and rituals. Listeners of all ages hum the tunes after hearing this wonderful show!
2024 Remembered from The Current
Saturday, Jan. 5, 6 p.m., 开云体育
Join us for a special music program honoring the life, music, and legacy of artists we lost in 2024. Enjoy a celebration of all sounds - from indie to influential - and the perfect way for music lovers to unite in paying homage to the artists who have shaped music history.
TV Holiday Specials
The following programs are listed by date and will air on our main TV channel. Find a station or .
Mary Berry's Highland Christmas
Sunday, Dec.1, 1 p.m.
Mary Berry spends Christmas in her mother's homeland of Scotland to enjoy a winter break soaking up her Scottish heritage and enjoying traditional festive delights with familiar faces, as well cooking up some of her own indulgent dishes.
Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas
Saturday, Dec.7, 10 a.m.
Join the beloved British home cook and three special friends as they prepare her ultimate Christmas feast with all the trimmings. From the traditional turkey to her classic Christmas pudding, it's the perfect recipe for a deliciously festive holiday.
Classic Christmas with the Bach Festival Society
Friday, Dec. 13, 9 p.m.
From the Knowles Memorial Chapel for a Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra performance.
Christmas in New England
Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 p.m.
From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the traditions and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Let Your Heart Be Light: Christmas in the Adirondacks
Sunday, Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m.
Featuring acoustic guitarist/kalimba artist Trevor Gordon Hall, performing much-loved Holiday classics from his album of the same name. This special celebrates a wintry Christmas in New York's Adirondack region.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2:00 p.m.
Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate Christmas together during World War I.
Magic of Christmas in Alsace
Sunday, Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy a magical Christmas in the small towns and villages.of the Alsace region of France.
Joy - Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir (Premiere)
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.
Broadway star Michael Maliakel and beloved actress Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey) inspire in this holiday special that weaves Christmas classics with the story of Victor Hugo to show that opening our hearts to all is the true meaning of the season.
Too Hot to Handel - The Gospel Messiah (Premiere)
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 9:30 p.m.
Handel's 18th century masterpiece "The Messiah" has been reimagined by Conductor Marin Alsop with colleagues Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson. Handel's arias, choruses and orchestration have been infused with Gospel, Jazz and R&B creating an uplifting reinterpretation of this Christmas and Easter favorite. This performance from London's Royal Albert Hall marks the European premiere of "Too Hot To Handel: The Gospel Messiah," a piece that has been a seasonal fixture across the United States since it premiered in New York in 1993.
European Christmas Markets
Sunday, Dec. 22, 2:30 p.m.
Visit charming markets in festively decorated cities and towns in Germany, France and Switzerland.
Holidays at Murray State
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m.
The Murray State University Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, a cappella group "EQ Blu," and featured faculty soloists, highlights this annual seasonal special.
Crane Candlelight Concert: Celebrating a Miracle
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 9 p.m.
For more than 100 years, the Crane Candlelight Concert has ushered in the holiday season at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. Featuring nearly 300 musicians from The Crane Chorus, the Crane Symphony Orchestra and select ensembles performing a variety of old and new holiday selections. This year's concert features new and traditional Christmas music as well as some Hanukkah related songs and hymns.
Christmas with Sir John Rutter at Preston Hollow
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 10 p.m.
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Texas presents "A Christmas with Sir John Rutter at Preston Hollow!" The featured guest star of the production is world renowned composer/conductor John Rutter, who was recently knighted by King Charles of the UK. Rutter, dubbed "the composer who owns Christmas" by the New York Times, conducted the church's famed 125-voice Sanctuary Choir, the Boy Choir of St. Mark's School of Texas, soloists Josefina Maldonado and Erin Hannigan, and professional orchestra in a selection of his most popular works.
Noel Triumphant
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 5 a.m.
Noel Triumphant features an international choir and orchestra performing sacred Christmas songs.
Celebrate & Sing! Glory to the Newborn King!
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 6 a.m.
Christmas favorites performed by the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church choir and orchestra.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2024 (Premiere)
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 8 p.m.
It is Christmas 1969 and the Nonnatus midwives are in their element, all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to. The funfair comes to Poplar, adding a burst of color and excitement to the frosty landscape but there are other visitors to the borough including influenza and the Hong Kong flu.
