Holiday Programming
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Tuesday, December 10
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library. Hosted by Richard Gsell.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz with host, Katie Simonsen.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with Colleen Finn.
Wednesday, December 11
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library. Hosted by Jaron Childs.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz with host, Captain Doug.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with Jeremy Starz.
Thursday, December 12
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library with host, Molly Rose Teuke.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, world, blues and jazz; hosted by Jeff Eaton.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with Craig Harrison.
Friday, December 13
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library with host, Marilyn Pekol.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz, hosted by James Cape.
6pm Blues Friday
The usual great night of blues, augmented with blues versions of favorite seasonal standards; hosted by Jeff Burke.
Sunday, Decembere 15
1pm Holiday Jazz
A jazz celebration of the season with a mix of music from both new and legendary artists with Ardis Berghoff.
Monday, December 16
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library hosted by Beth Hassler.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal Favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with Renee Wink.
Tuesday, December 17
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with host, Marcia Barkus.
Wednesday, December 18
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz hosted by Susan Spanenberg.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with Bill Kopanda.
Thursday, December 19
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library hosted by Molly Rose Teuke.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz hosted by Randy Burl.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with Craig Harrison.
Friday, December 20
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library hosted by Marilyn Pekol.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz hosted by Patty Fitzpatrick.
6pm Blues Friday
The usual great night of blues, augmented with blues versions of favorite seasonal standards hosted by Brooke Behrle.
Saturday, December 21
9am Polka
Roll up the rug and take a polka holiday with seasonal tunes from the Saturday Morning Polka Party; live from the WXPR studios.
Noon Bluegrass
The songs and stories of the holiday season told bluegrass-style with Randy Burl.
7pm Country Legends
A holiday Country Legends mixed with seasonal favorites from the artists that gave us traditional country music; hosted by Theresa Seabloom.
Sunday, December 22
5pm Holiday Open Turntable
Enjoy the best of Holiday Music from the American Songbook with Rod Ankrom.
8pm Hanukkah Lights 2019
A perennial NPR favorite with all new Hanukkah stories. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
9pm Candles Burning Brightly
Mindy Ratner hosts this encore celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. "Candles Burning Brightly" explores the meaning and traditions of Chanukah, including holiday foods and Sephardic and Ashkenazi music.
Monday, December 23
9am Midday Classics
Four hours of the classics warmed with seasonal selections from WXPR’s classical music library.
1pm Crossroads Café
Seasonal favorites and the best holiday folk, blues and jazz.
6pm Northwoods Café
A gift bag full of the best holiday folk, world and alternative music on the Northwoods Café with host, Doug Malinsky.
Tuesday, December 24
9am Welcome Christmas!
“Welcome Christmas!” is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral ensembles.
10am All is Bright
Lynne Warfel hosts an hour of gorgeous, contemplative choral music that tells the traditional Christmas story with songs about angels, the star and the manger scene.
11am A Chanticleer Christmas
A one-hour program of holiday favorites, new and old, presented live in concert by the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices."
12pm 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.
1pm Hollywood Holiday
Lynne Warfel, host of Saturday Cinema, takes you on a one-hour musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas themed movies.
2pm The Big Tiny Desk 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!
3pm All Songs Considered Holidays
John Legend, Aloe Blacc, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, William Shatner, Lucius, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees and Rodney Crowell, share their own good cheer for the holidays.
4pm A Christmas Carol w/Jonathan Winters
Hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg, master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a special performing edition of Dickens' holiday classic.
5pm St Olaf Christmas Festival
A service in song and word that includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity.
7pm Jazz Night in America
You'll hear the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, plus special guest vocalists, Catherine Russell and Kenny Washington. Christian McBride hosts.
8pm Jazz Piano Christmas 35
Join the Kennedy Center and NPR Music for this annual holiday tradition highlighting jazz pianists and their favorite seasonal music.
9pm Joy to the World- A Holiday In Pink
Hosted by NPR’s Ari Shapiro, the internationally acclaimed “little orchestra," Pink Martini, bedecks the airwaves with festive holiday songs.
10pm Afro Blue Christmas
A very special holiday concert with Howard University's a-cappela group Afro Blue as they perform one of a kind arrangements.
Wednesday, December 25 Christmas Day!
6am Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir continues its tradition of great artistry with touching arrangements of familiar carols, and a few surprises.
7am St. Olaf Christmas Festival
A service in song and word that includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity.
9am Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols
Pipedreams host, Michael Barone, presents this live service of spoken-word and music (choral and organ) broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England.
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.
12pm Christmas with the Morehouse and Spellman Glee Clubs
Korva Coleman hosts the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges as they present their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols.
1pm Tinsel Tales 1
Hosted by Lynn Neary, stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season.
2pm Tinsel Tales 2
Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories.
3pm Tinsel Tales 3
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the third collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places.
4pm Tinsel Tales 4
In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the fourth collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places.
5pm Jazz Night in America
You'll hear the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, plus special guest vocalists Catherine Russell and Kenny Washington. Christian McBride hosts.
6pm Jazz Piano Christmas 35
Join the Kennedy Center and NPR Music for this annual holiday tradition, highlighting jazz pianists and their favorite seasonal music.
7pm Hollywood Holiday
A one-hour musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas themed movies.
8pm The Big Tiny Desk 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!
9pm All Songs Considered Holidays-
John Legend, Aloe Blacc, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, William Shatner, Lucius, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees and Rodney Crowell, share their own good cheer for the holidays.
10pm Festivo Alt Latino
Featuring songwriter and performer Gaby Moreno and her band performing tracks from her popular holiday album, Posada.
Friday, December 27
6pm Blues Friday
The usual great night of blues, augmented with blues versions of favorite seasonal standards; hosted by Patty Fitzpatrick.
Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Eve!
6pm Toast of the Nation
An NPR tradition since the 1970s, it’s the perfect audio complement for the occasion. It's festive jazz you can party to, all night long!
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
9am Hygge Holiday
Join host Elena See as she plays a mix of wintry and nostalgic classical pieces designed to accompany listeners as they enjoy cozy wintertime activities.
10am New Year’s Day from Vienna
The Vienna Philharmonic presents its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more -- a festive way to start off the New Year.
12pm The Great Listen from Story Corps
Hosted by NPR's, Audie Cornish. Audie is interviewed by her 17-year-old nephew, Julian, in this showcase of surprising and delightful intergenerational experiences. The project also highlights the best of over 100,000 interviews recorded across the country on the StoryCorps app, a tool that allows users to record their own personal stories.