Wyoming Public Radio 2020 Holiday Programs
*All programs subject to change*
Thursday, December 10
8:00pm: A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago a cappella - Join Jonathan Miller, artistic director of Chicago a cappella and a longtime champion of Jewish choral music, for an inspiring, informative and entertaining show featuring choral music set to Chanukah texts both familiar and original performed by this virtuoso ensemble.
Sunday, December 13
9:00pm: Candles Burning Brightly - A one-hour celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights with an exploration of Chanukah foods and traditional activities… and plenty of music.
Friday, December 18
11:00am: High Country Low Country Holiday with Sally & George - Music performance and conversation with Sally (Shelby Means from Laramie, WY) and George (Joel Timmons from Charleston, SC).
8:00pm: Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin - In this delightful show, Bill McGlaughlin takes us on a musical journey to medieval Italy, an American jazz club, a Mexican celebration, Polynesia, and more.
Saturday, December 19
11:00am: Ranch Breakfast Christmas Show - Join Tom Wilhelm for the best in bluegrass and folk music for the holidays.
8:00pm: Retro Cocktail Hour Christmas Show - Two hours of finger-snapping, hip-shaking sounds for the holidays, with tunes by Frank Sinatra, The Three Suns, Eartha Kitt, Don Tiki, The Blue Hawaiians and Bugs Bunny. Hang the mistletoe and spike the egg nog - you're in Yulesville, baby!
Sunday, December 20
8:00pm: Thistle & Shamrock - Fiona's Celtic Holiday Celebration - A blend of festive songs, carols, stories and season's greetings.
9:00pm: Paul Winter's 40th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration - Hosted by WNYC's John Schaefer with a contemporary take on ancient solstice rituals. In these dark times, the Winter Solstice Celebration offers an uplifting experience of community, light, and music. The program features the Paul Winter consort and special guests Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary), gospel singer Theresa Thomason cellist Eugene Friesen and double reed player Paul McCandless.
Monday, December 21
8:00pm: A Soulful Christmas - This uplifting special features Black music and composers celebrating classical music while exploring Spirituals, Gospel Music, Jazz and other Black musical traditions.
Tuesday, December 22
8:00pm: A Chanticleer Christmas - Holiday favorites, new and old, presented live in concert by the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices."
Wednesday, December 23
8:00pm: Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Magic Through the Years - Featuring the Cheyenne Chamber Singers and the All-City Children's Chorus including selections from The Nutcracker, Comfort and Joy and Sleigh Ride.
Thursday, December 24
7:00pm: Tinsel Tales - This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk; these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
8:00pm: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - A 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 one of the world's foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue.
Friday, December 25
5:00am: Welcome Christmas - 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.
9:00am: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square - The sounds of the Tabernacle Choir floated into many homes during the holidays in the '60s and '70s bringing lush renditions of favorite Christmas carols. Those warm memories and feelings come right back again in this holiday special.
10:00am: Wyoming Sounds: Holiday Harmony & Rhythm - Americana and tinsel tunes for a way cool yule with host Grady Kirkpatrick.
3:00pm: Selected Shorts-Christmas Spirits High and Low - We want Christmas to be merry and bright, but sometimes the season can be challenging. Our two stories, presented by guest host Cynthia Nixon, do deliver good cheer in the end (and Nixon shares a few of her own holiday traditions).
Classical Wyoming
Thursday, December 24
8:00am-10:00am: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - A 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 one of the world's foremost choirs of men and boys and performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue.
Friday, December 25
10:00am: St. Olaf Christmas Festival - F. Melius Christiansen started the Christmas Festival in 1911 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota as a simple service in word and song for students, faculty, friends and family. In the 109 years since, it has grown to traditionally include more than 500 student musicians who share their gifts at the four live concerts. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 St. Olaf Christmas Festival will not be performed live. The program for this year will feature archived music from previous broadcasts, as well as retrospective interviews.