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WMRA/WEMC Holiday Specials 2017

WMRA and WEMC Holiday Specials for 2017

Sunday, Dec. 17th
WEMC 7pm  A 20th Century English Christmas
This program celebrates the rich English choral tradition, and how it flourished in Christmas seasons throughout the 20th century.  Hear works by Benjamin Britten, Herbert Howells, William Walton and Elizabeth Poston, featuring performances by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, the Westminster Abbey Choir and the ensemble Polyphony.

Tuesday, Dec. ​19th
WEMC 6pm  A Chanticleer Christmas
Nothing signals the beginning of the holiday season like 12 men singing in beautifully blended harmony. A Chanticleer Christmas is a one-hour celebration of the season as told through the glorious voices of Chanticleer, the San Francisco-based men's choir.

WEMC 7pm  A 20th Century English Christmas
This program celebrates the rich English choral tradition, and how it flourished in Christmas seasons throughout the 20th century.  Hear works by Benjamin Britten, Herbert Howells, William Walton and Elizabeth Poston, featuring performances by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, the Westminster Abbey Choir and the ensemble Polyphony.

Wednesday, Dec. 20th
WEMC 6pm  Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Join the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, accompanied by the Orchestra at Temple Square, for their annual Christmas concert.

Thursday, Dec. 21st 
WEMC 1pm   A 20th Century English Christmas
This program celebrates the rich English choral tradition, and how it flourished in Christmas seasons throughout the 20th century.  Hear works by Benjamin Britten, Herbert Howells, William Walton and Elizabeth Poston, featuring performances by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, the Westminster Abbey Choir and the ensemble Polyphony.

WEMC 6pm  Welcome Christmas!
New for 2017, "Welcome Christmas!" is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral ensembles. Join host John Birge for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of two carols from the annual Christmas Carol Contest.

Friday, Dec. 22nd
WEMC 6pm  Hollywood Holiday
An hour of holiday movie music that ranges from the sentimental to the completely cranky. From "White Christmas" and cozy homes for the holidays, to Grinches and Scrooges, Hollywood Holiday takes in your favorite holiday movies from a musical point of view.

Saturday, Dec. 23rd
WMRA 12pm  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.

WMRA 1pm  All Songs Considered for the Holidays
Kacey Musgraves, Conor Oberst and more special guests join All Songs hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton on a steam engine to the north pole.

WMRA 2pm  Tinsel Tales - Stories Of The Season Told Through Music
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

WMRA 8pm  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.

WMRA 9pm  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-cappela 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.

WMRA 10pm  Paul Winter's 36th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration
Celebrate the Return of the Sun - and the Warming of the heart with Paul Winter’s Annual Winter Solstice Celebration. On the darkest night of the year, we head back to New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ. The performance brings traditional holiday favorites and new sounds from around the world with special guests Fabiana Cozza, Gary Booker, Theresa Thomason, Paul McCandless, Eugene Freisen, the percussion troupe Forces of Nature.
 
Sunday, Dec. 24th
WEMC 11am  St. Olaf Christmas Festival
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, and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians who are members of five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.

WEMC 1pm Advent Voices
Host Lynne Warfel presents an hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Advent season, the Christmas story, and its symbolism. Selections include "I Wonder As I Wander," "Gabriel’s Message," "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime," and "Still, Still, Still."

WEMC 2pm Carols & Cheer
The BBC's Scott Blankenship and Matt Culloton team up to review their favorite carols for the holiday season. Utterly "sing-a-long-able", their top picks will include the best of the Christmas season as performed by the leading artists and ensembles of today.

WEMC 3pm A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Hosted by Michael Barone, this music and spoken-word broadcast comes from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King's College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music.

WEMC 7pm  The Christmas Story through Carols Old and New
This hour long choral music show tells the Christmas story through a variety of carols.  Each set focuses on a different part of the story, from the angels to Mary and the baby, the shepherds and how they spread the word of Jesus' birth.

WMRA 10pm  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.

Tuesday, Dec. 26th
WEMC 7pm  The Christmas Story through Carols Old and New
This hour long choral music show tells the Christmas story through a variety of carols.  Each set focuses on a different part of the story, from the angels to Mary and the baby, the shepherds and how they spread the word of Jesus' birth.

WEMC 8pm Handel's Messiah with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Handel's much adored oratorio, Messiah, returns to Heinz Hall! Led by Music Director Manfred Honeck and featuring a cast of guest vocalists and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, this work is a religious story of hope, inspiration and timeless expression.

Wednesday, Dec. 27th
WMRA 8pm The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes a Holiday New Year’s Edition 2017
Put down those indictments, Robert Mueller – if you’re hoping Paul Manafort will sing like a canary, all you have to do is tune in to the Capitol Steps year-end edition of “Politics Takes a Holiday.”
  
Thursday, Dec. 28th
WEMC 1pm  The Christmas Story through Carols Old and New
This hour long choral music show tells the Christmas story through a variety of carols.  Each set focuses on a different part of the story, from the angels to Mary and the baby, the shepherds and how they spread the word of Jesus' birth.

Sunday, Dec. 31st
WEMC 7pm  Famous Firsts
Happy New Year!  For the first week of 2017, here's a program of famous firsts - from Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, and Debussy.  They're famous not just because they're the first of their kind -  they're famous because they're stunning pieces of music.

WMRA 10pm The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes a Holiday New Year’s Edition 2017
Put down those indictments, Robert Mueller – if you’re hoping Paul Manafort will sing like a canary, all you have to do is tune in to the Capitol Steps year-end edition of “Politics Takes a Holiday.”  

Tuesday, Jan. 2nd 
WEMC 7pm  Famous Firsts
Happy New Year!  For the first week of 2017, here's a program of famous firsts - from Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, and Debussy.  They're famous not just because they're the first of their kind -  they're famous because they're stunning pieces of music.

Thursday, Jan. 4th
WEMC 1pm  Famous Firsts
Happy New Year!  For the first week of 2017, here's a program of famous firsts - from Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, and Debussy.  They're famous not just because they're the first of their kind -  they're famous because they're stunning pieces of music.

Matt Bingay is the Executive Director and General Manager for WMRA and WEMC.