Click here to download a printable version of PRE's holiday specials.
November 25th Every Good Thing - Wednesday 1pm-2pm
Host Andrea Blain and classical music fans from all around the country take some time to give thanks and celebrate one of life's most meaningful gifts: music. It's "Every Good Thing" — an hour of stories and music to celebrate Thanksgiving.
November 26th Giving Thanks - Thursday 11am-1pm
Giving Thanks sounds the way Thanksgiving feels: inviting, warm, and festive. No clichés about pilgrims and pumpkin pies. Instead, it’s a contemporary celebration of spirit of Gratitude.
December 11 Candles Burning Brightly - Friday 7pm - 8pm
A one-hour celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights with an exploration of Chanukah foods and traditional activities … and plenty of music.
December 14 Messiah - Monday 7pm-9pm
A revisited local production of Handel's Messiah from December 11, 2017, in New Bern, NC. The Craven Messiah Chorus presents a broadcast of its 35th Season performance, recorded live at Centenary United Methodist Church. Featuring a new interview with conductor James Ogle, with local program host Finley Woolston.
December 17 Christmas with Madrigalia - Thursday 7pm-8pm
The Rochester, NY chamber choir Madrigalia, and their Artistic Director Cary Ratcliff return to public radio for Christmas with Madrigalia 2020, a holiday concert that celebrates the excitement and joy of the holiday season. Once again Madrigalia is joined by the Rochester Bach Children’s Choir for traditional carols accompanied by flute, violin and piano.
December 18 All Is Bright - Friday 7pm –8pm
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. Featured artists include Cantus, Chanticleer, Cambridge Singers, Bryn Terfel, Emma Kirkby, Jessye Norman, and a variety of choirs.
December 21 Hugge Holdiay - Monday 3pm-4pm
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.
December 21 Christmas with Tabernacle - Monday 7pm-8pm
The sounds of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square floated into many homes during the holidays in the '60s & '70s on Goodyear and Firestone albums, bringing lush renditions of favorite Christmas carols. Those warm memories and feelings come right back again in this holiday special.
December 22 A Chanticleer Christmas - Tuesday 12pm-1pm
Celebrate the season with song! Steve Staruch hosts this one-hour program of holiday favorites, new and old, presented live in concert by Chanticleer, the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices."
December 22 Hollywood Holiday - Tuesday 3pm-4pm
Lynne Warfel, host of Saturday Cinema, takes you on a one-hour musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas themed movies. Including scores from "Scrooge, the Musical", "A Muppet Christmas Carol", "The Polar Express", "It's A Wonderful Life" and many more.
December 23 Welcome Christmas - Wednesday 12pm-1pm
Welcome Christmas is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups, conducted by Philip Brunelle. An hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of two carols from the annual Christmas Carol Contest.
December 23 Soulful Christmas - Wednesday 3p-4pm
Julie Amacher and Tesfa Wondemagegnehu host this uplifting Christmas special that features Black music and composers. Including choral music, gospel, spiritual and jazz-inspired styles, this special celebrates and explores non-idiomatic Black classical music and choral traditions.
December 24 A Festival of 9 Lessons Live - Thursday 10am-Noon
Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal ‘classical’ music (anthems a cappella and with organ accompaniment, and congregational hymns), presented by King's College.
December 24 Apollo's Fire presents Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain - Thursday 3pm-4pm
An Irish-Appalachian Celebration. The 35-member ensemble brings a joyous concert experience with the warmth of period instruments. Fiddlers, medieval harp, hammered dulcimer, bagpipes, singers, and children’s voices join together to evoke the Celtic roots of an Appalachian holiday. Listeners are transported from Christmas Eve in medieval Scotland to the folk carols and shape‐note hymns at a toe‐tapping Christmas gathering in Virginia
December 24 St. Olaf Christmas Concert - Thursday 7pm-8pm
St. Olaf Christmas Festival is a chance for listeners across the country and around the world to participate in one of the nation’s most treasured holiday celebrations.
December 25 Messiah local production - Friday 7pm-9pm
A revisited local production of Handel's Messiah from December 11, 2017, in New Bern, NC. The Craven Messiah Chorus presents a broadcast of its 35th Season performance, recorded live at Centenary United Methodist Church. Featuring a new interview with conductor James Ogle, with local program host Finley Woolston.