WKMS Keeps You Company for the Holidays

You stand by the station 365 days a year, and in addition to saying thanks, we join you in celebrating the season with “Company for the Holidays,” our traditional music and spoken word entertainments airing Thanksgiving 2011 through New Year’s Day 2012.

Thursday, November 24 - Thanksgiving

9 a.m.	Giving Thanks - With music and stories for Thanksgiving, host John Birge creates a thoughtful, contemporary reflection on the meaning of the holiday. For listeners in the kitchen, on the road, or relaxing after the feast, Giving Thanks provides the perfect atmosphere for Thanksgiving: the warmth of great music, and truly memorable words.
10 a.m.	The Splendid Table's Turkey Confidential (Live Show) - On Thursday, November 24, help is on the way for Thanksgiving cooks, kitchen helpers and dinner guests on this, the biggest cooking day of the year. Lynne Rossetto Kasper, award-winning host of public radio's national food show The Splendid Table, will be available to answer listener questions throughout the live, two-hour program. Quickly becoming a Thanksgiving morning tradition, past shows have included everything from a cross-country trucker cooking his Thanksgiving dinner on the manifold to a panicked first-time cook who didn't realize a turkey needs to be thawed. Lynne handles all questions with wit, expertise and laughter.
Noon	A Thanksgiving Celebration with Garrison Keillor - A broadcast of "Gratitude, Gravy & Garrison," VocalEssence's celebration of all things Thanksgiving. Keillor performs his signature monologue and contributes comic new lyrics to familiar songs and hymns.

Thursday, December 1

Noon

Tinsel Tales 2 - NPR fills millions of homes each holiday with humor, warmth, and a host of festive voices. Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary.

Sunday, December 4

7 p.m.

Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs - One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

8 p.m.

A Classical Christmas with George Eldred - WKMS music host George Eldred shares an hour of his favorite classical Christmas music.

Monday, December 5

9 a.m. HD-2

Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs - One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

8 p.m. HD-2

A Classical Christmas with George Eldred - WKMS music host George Eldred shares an hour of his favorite classical Christmas music.

Wednesday, December 7

Noon HD-2

Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs - One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

1 p.m. HD-2

A Classical Christmas with George Eldred - WKMS music host George Eldred shares an hour of his favorite classical Christmas music.

Thursday, December 8

Noon

A Carolina Christmas from Biltmore Estate, with Kathy Mattea - This program is a festive celebration of holiday music -- from one of the most magnificent acoustic venues in the country! A Carolina Christmas features soloists and large ensembles performing a rich variety of songs, including sacred music of the season, African-American spirituals, Celtic jigs and folk favorites. Center stage is the rich voice and warm spirit of two-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Kathy Mattea, singing fresh arrangements from her Grammy award-winning holiday album Good News. Ms. Mattea is accompanied by the Carolinas' premiere choral ensemble, VOX, as well as the Baroque/Celtic trio The Beggar Boys.

Friday, December 9

7 p.m. HD-2

Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs - One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

8 p.m. HD-2

A Classical Christmas with George Eldred - WKMS music host George Eldred shares an hour of his favorite classical Christmas music.

Sunday, December 11

7 p.m.

Welcome Christmas! - Long a favorite from their appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, VocalEssence rings in the season with an all-new Welcome Christmas! It's an hour of joyful holiday music featuring the Minneapolis-based chorus, VocalEssence, and hosted for the thirteenth year by APM's John Birge.

8 p.m.

Echoes of Christmas - Moving selections of choral classics celebrating Christmas. The Dale Warland Singers provided magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years and were acclaimed as America's premiere choir. Their signature holiday concert — beloved by public radio listeners nationwide — was the annual Echoes of Christmas program. Drawing upon the archive of their live performances, Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse create a very special Christmas musical treat.

Monday, December 12

9 a.m. HD-2

Welcome Christmas! - Long a favorite from their appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, VocalEssence rings in the season with an all-new Welcome Christmas! It's an hour of joyful holiday music featuring the Minneapolis-based chorus, VocalEssence, and hosted for the thirteenth year by APM's John Birge.

10 a.m. HD-2

Echoes of Christmas - Moving selections of choral classics celebrating Christmas. The Dale Warland Singers provided magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years and were acclaimed as America's premiere choir. Their signature holiday concert — beloved by public radio listeners nationwide — was the annual Echoes of Christmas program. Drawing upon the archive of their live performances, Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse create a very special Christmas musical treat.

Wednesday, December 14

Noon HD-2

Welcome Christmas! - Long a favorite from their appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, VocalEssence rings in the season with an all-new Welcome Christmas! It's an hour of joyful holiday music featuring the Minneapolis-based chorus, VocalEssence, and hosted for the thirteenth year by APM's John Birge.

1 p.m. HD-2

Echoes of Christmas - Moving selections of choral classics celebrating Christmas. The Dale Warland Singers provided magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years and were acclaimed as America's premiere choir. Their signature holiday concert — beloved by public radio listeners nationwide — was the annual Echoes of Christmas program. Drawing upon the archive of their live performances, Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse create a very special Christmas musical treat.

Thursday, December 15

Noon	Hanukkah Lights 2011 - A perennial NPR favorite, Hanukkah Lights features Hanukkah stories and memoirs written by acclaimed authors expressly for the show, as read by NPR's Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

Wednesday, December 16

7 p.m. HD-2

Welcome Christmas! - Long a favorite from their appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, VocalEssence rings in the season with an all-new Welcome Christmas! It's an hour of joyful holiday music featuring the Minneapolis-based chorus, VocalEssence, and hosted for the thirteenth year by APM's John Birge.

8 p.m. HD-2

Echoes of Christmas - Moving selections of choral classics celebrating Christmas. The Dale Warland Singers provided magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years and were acclaimed as America's premiere choir. Their signature holiday concert — beloved by public radio listeners nationwide — was the annual Echoes of Christmas program. Drawing upon the archive of their live performances, Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse create a very special Christmas musical treat.

Sunday, December 18

9 a.m.	A Season of Remembrance with Mike Freeland - World War II combat medic Mike Freeland shares an hour of Jazz and memories of the season.
7 p.m.	PSO: Home for Christmas - Celebrate the holidays with this exciting performance by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra featuring the wonderful voices of the PSO Choruses under the direction of Bradley Almquist and Amy Aucoin.
9 p.m.	Classical Encore Christmas Part 1 - Musician and educator John Dressler presents two hours of great seasonal classical music.

Monday, December 19

9 a.m. HD-2	PSO: Home for Christmas - Celebrate the holidays with this exciting performance by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra featuring the wonderful voices of the PSO Choruses under the direction of Bradley Almquist and Amy Aucoin.
Noon	Jazz Piano Christmas XXII - NPR Music brings you another great concert from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. NEA Jazz Master Barry Harris, Jason Moran, Eddie Palmieri, and up-and-comer Alfredo Rodriguez perform unique piano arrangements of their favorite holiday songs. Felix Contreas hosts.

Tuesday, December 20

Noon	Chanukah in Story and Song - A one-hour Chanukah favorite, a celebration by The Western Wind performing Ladino songs of Spanish Jews, Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe and modern Israeli tunes. Leonard Nimoy is host.
9 p.m.	A Cafe Jazz Christmas with Todd Hill - Enjoy two hours of the best Christmas jazz, from blues and ballads, to big band and bebop.

Wednesday, December 21

Noon	Lessons and Carols from Washington National Cathedral 2011 - "Lesson & Carols from Washington National Cathdral" is an annual special broadcast from the Cathedral with the Cathedral choirs and Cathedral Choral society, the Bishop of Washington, Dean and canons of the Cathedral.
Noon HD-2	PSO: Home for Christmas - Celebrate the holidays with this exciting performance by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra featuring the wonderful voices of the PSO Choruses under the direction of Bradley Almquist and Amy Aucoin.
7 p.m.	A Paul Winter Solstice Concert - For two decades, Paul Winter's Solstice has been one of New York's and NPR's most popular holiday programs. Winter, the six-time Grammy-winning saxophonist, once again brings his ensemble and special guests to NPR in a performance from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, celebrating the Winter Solstice and the longest night of the year. Joining the Consort this year: Armenian vocalist/percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, gospel singer Theresa Thomason, and the drummers of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. The program features the American Premiere of the Consort's 2010 Grammy-winning suite Miho: Journey to the Mountain, and of course perennial Solstice favorites. As always, the star of the show is the Cathedral, which brings acoustic glory and esthetic majesty to the Celebration.
9 p.m.	A Cafe Jazz Christmas with George Eldred - Enjoy two hours of the best Christmas jazz, from blues and ballads, to big band and bebop.

Thursday, December 22

Noon	A Chanticleer Christmas - A Chanticleer Christmas is American Public Media's one-hour celebration of the season as told through the glorious voices of Chanticleer, the 12-voice San Francisco-based men's choir. The program spans the globe and the centuries — from England in the 1300s to new arrangements of classic and contemporary carols
9 p.m.	A Cafe Jazz Christmas with Brian Clardy - Enjoy two hours of the best Christmas jazz, from blues and ballads, to big band and bebop.

Friday, December 23

Noon	All Songs Considered for the Holidays (One Hour) - Third time's a charm, or maybe not. It's the third edition of the not so new, wonky holiday tradition from NPR Music. Host Bob Boilen and friends trade holiday cheer and snarky barbs while bringing you the best holiday songs from new and emerging breakout bands. This show is filled with fun and fresh renditions of great holiday music.
7 p.m. HD-2	PSO: Home for Christmas - Celebrate the holidays with this exciting performance by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra featuring the wonderful voices of the PSO Choruses under the direction of Bradley Almquist and Amy Aucoin.
9 p.m.	House Blend Christmas - WKMS volunteer host David Weatherly cooks up groove beats, funk, and jazz fusion for the holiday season.
11 p.m.	The Retro Cocktail Hour Christmas Party - The Retro Cocktail Hour Christmas Party serves up swinging bachelor pad sounds for the holiday season, with tunes by Esquivel, The Three Suns, Xavier Cugat, Peggy Lee, Ennio Morricone, Lisa Ono, the Soulful Strings, Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra, The Barry Gemso Experience, the Blue Hawaiians and Nat King Cole. jazz, from blues and ballads, to big band and bebop.

Saturday, December 24

9 a.m.	A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Live Show) - Hosted by Michael Barone, this is a live stereo music and spoken-word broadcast 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.
10:30 a.m.	Music from the Front Porch Christmas - WKMS volunteer host Mark Welch puts on his Santa hat and distributes holiday treats of bluegrass, folk, and acoustic Christmas favorites.
2 p.m.	Rick's Kitchen Sink Christmas (One Hour) - Join Rick Nance this Christmas Eve as he celebrates the holiday with his usual musical pairings on Rick's Kitchen Sink. Featuring artists like Fleet Foxes, The Ronettes, Jethro Tull, Los Straitjackets and more, Rick covers almost all the musical bases in this unique holiday program.
8 p.m.	Beyond The Edge Christmas - Curl up with Tracy Ross this Christmas Eve for an eclectic program dedicated to winter and the Holiday season.
8 p.m. HD-2	Classical Encore Christmas Part 1 - Musician and educator John Dressler presents two hours of great seasonal classical music.
11 p.m.	Weekend Energy Dubstep Christmas - What do you want for Christmas this year? How about a big fat bassline? Don't Miss Matt McG's second-annual Weekend Energy Dubstep Chrismas.

Sunday, December 25

9 a.m.	Holidays at Murray State 2011 - The Murray State University Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, and Voices of Praise highlight this annual seasonal special.
2 p.m.	Jazzman Christmas - WKMS volunteer host Andy “Jazzman” Smith offers traditional yuletide jazz.
3 p.m.	Christmas in the 50's - The 1950s were the era of tailfins, Ike and Perry Como.  Join Dr. Bob for fabulous Holiday music and memories on this Eisenhower Hour special for the season.
7 p.m.	St. Olaf Christmas Festival - A service in song and word that has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event, which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, are always gone months in advance. 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.
9 p.m.	Classical Encore Christmas Part 2 - Musician and educator John Dressler presents two hours of great seasonal classical music.

Monday, December 26

9 a.m. HD-2

St. Olaf Christmas Festival - A service in song and word that has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event, which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, are always gone months in advance. 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.

Wednesday, December 28

Noon HD-2

St. Olaf Christmas Festival - A service in song and word that has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event, which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, are always gone months in advance. 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.

Thursday, December 29

Noon	A Season's Griot 2011 - A one-hour Kwanzaa celebration in story and song, this year exploring the theme of peace through storytelling, music and voices from the streets, hosted by Madafo Lloyd Wilson.

Friday, December 30

7 p.m. HD-2

St. Olaf Christmas Festival - A service in song and word that has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. Tickets to the event, which takes place at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, are always gone months in advance. 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.

Saturday, December 31

8 p.m.	Beyond The Edge Year In Music Spectacular - Say goodbye to 2011 with host Tracy Ross as he counts down his favorite albums of the year.
8 p.m. HD-2	Classical Encore Christmas Part 2 - Musician and educator John Dressler presents two hours of great seasonal classical music.
11 p.m.	Weekend Energy Year-End Blowout - Matt McG plays the year's best techno, dance, and electronica in the Weekend Energy New Year’s Blow Out Spectacular. Add "new speakers" to your Christmas list, because this mix will be HUGE.

Sunday, January 1

9 a.m.	Front Page Sunday Year in Review - Chad Lampe, Todd Hatton and the WKMS News team present a look back at some of the stories they covered during 2011.
7 p.m.	New Year's Day from Vienna 2012 (Two Hours) - 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. Presented by NPR Music and WGBH, Boston.