News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

[Update] Holidays Sound Good on WKMS!

Update: Classical Channel specials added, including Carson Myre Holiday Youth Performances. Also, other year-end programs on the main channel.

Here's our list of warm and cozy holiday programming for the season. We 'sound good' from Thanksgiving through New Years with more than 30 hours of music, storytelling, historical reflection, and Paducah Symphony Orchestra's "A Christmas Celebration."

Giving Thanks
Thursday, November 27,  11 am – 1 pm
This year Minnesota Public Radio host John Birge celebrates fall, food and gratitude with two hours of music and stories, including readings by poet Nikki Giovanni and remembrances of Dr. Maya Angelou.

Preserving Our Voices 2014  
Friday, November 28,  Noon – 1 pm;  Sunday, November 30, 9 – 10 am; Friday, December 26, Noon – 1 pm
This year’s National Day of Listening project offers stories of individual perseverance in the face of adversity from participants recorded in our region.

Holidays at MSU 2013
Tuesday, December 2, 7 – 8 pm
The Murray State Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers and Jazz Orchestra highlight this annual special produced for KET and carried by public stations nationwide.

Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
Wednesday, December 3, 7 – 8 pm
NPR’s Korva Coleman hosts the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges in a classic presentation of spirituals and carols. 

The Retro Cocktail Christmas HOUR 2013
Thursday, December 4, 7 – 9 pm
Retro host Darrell Brogdon brings you two hours of holiday music that’s shaken, not stirred. 

Festivo Alt. Latino with Coral Cantigas
Monday, December 8, Noon – 1 pm
Alt. Latino’s Felix Contreras hosts this special featuring 20 piece choral ensemble Coral Cantigas, Peruvian Christmas carols, folk music from Brazil, Spain, and Mexico plus Parrandas from Venezuela and Puerto Rico. 

An Afro Blue Christmas
Tuesday, December 9, Noon – 1 pm  
Michele Norris hosts a joyous celebration by Howard University’s premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue, including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes and music of the classical holiday repertoire. 

Advent Voices  
Wednesday, December 10, Noon – 1 pm
Our classical channel’s Lynne Warfel hosts an hour of beautiful vocal music inspired by and written for  Advent including the selections “In the Bleak Mid- winter” and “Ave Maria.”

Welcome Christmas!
Thursday, December 11, Noon – 1 pm
John Birge hosts an hour of joyful holiday music with the Minneapolis-based chorus, VocalEssence, including a tribute to the late Dave Brubeck with his Christmas cantata La Fiesta de la Posada. 

Sounds Good Live Lunch with Big Atomic
Friday, December 12, Noon – 1 pm
Join us for our next Sounds Good Live Lunch with Murray-based funk, rock, and rhythm and blues group Big Atomic. 

Light and Gold: The Music Of Eric Whitacre  
Monday, December 15, Noon – 1 pm
Eric Whitacre is one of America’s most popular composers. During this one-hour Christmas program of Whitacre’s works, he joins co-host Brian Newhouse to add the often-colorful backstory of how each piece came to be. 

Chanukah in Story and Song
Tuesday, December 16, Noon – 1 pm
This hour-long Chanukah favorite returns with Leonard Nimoy hosting and The Western Wind performing Ladino songs, Yiddish melodies and modern Israeli tunes. Chanukah starts at sundown on December 16 and ends in the evening of December 24.

All Songs Considered for the Holidays
Wednesday, December 17, Noon – 1 pm
It’s a fun and weird holiday tradition from NPR Music. Host Bob Boilen and friends bring you their top picks of holiday songs from new and emerging bands.

A Café Jazz Christmas with Brian Clardy
Wednesday, December 17, 9 – 11 pm
Holiday music curated by Dr. Clardy includes interviews with vocalists Solitaire Miles and Sybil Lynch. 

Jazz Piano Christmas XXX
Thursday, December 18, Noon – 1 pm
Enjoy this year’s Kennedy Center holiday gala with host Felix Contreras featuring pianists Cyrus  Chestnut, Kris Davis, Lynne Arriale and the  “Master” Harold Mabern. 

A Baroque Christmas in the New World  
Friday, December 19, Noon – 1 pm
Hear music from 17th and 18th century Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, including a cantata and three freestanding works by Manuel de Sumaya — a prominent Mexican composer of the colonial period of New Spain. 

A Paul Winter Solstice Concert 2014  
Friday, December 19, 7 – 9 pm
Celebrate the longest night of the year with an ethereal concert in the world’s largest gothic cathedral, New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  The Paul Winter Consort performs this year with Brazilian musicians Ivan Lins and RenatoBraz. 

House Blend Festive Holiday Show  
Friday, December 19, 9 – 11 pm
Host David Weatherly brews up beats, funk, and jazz fusion for a seasonal groove. 

The Retro Cocktail Christmas Hour 2014
Friday, December 19, 11 pm – 1 am
Time to hang the mistletoe and spike the egg nog! This year’s party features holiday gems by Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Yuletide rarities including “(We Wanna See) Santa Do the Mambo.” 

Rick’s Kitchen Sink Christmas Special
Saturday, December 20, 1 – 3 pm
Join Rick Nance for an ultra-festive show! 

Beyond The Edge Holiday Special
Saturday, December 20, 8 – 11 pm
Host Tracy Ross goes beyond the holidays with seasonal favorites from U2, The Flaming Lips, John Lennon and many others. 

Weekend Energy Big House Christmas Mix
Saturday, December 20, 11 pm – 1 am
It’s one of the biggest episodes all year. Tune in for the best electronic music from around the world. 

Classical Encore Christmas  
Sunday, December 21, 5 – 7 am
Dr. John Dressler brings holiday cheer to classical. 

The Paducah Symphony Orchestra’s A Christmas Celebration (Also On Classical Channel)
Sunday, December 21, 11 am – 1 pm;  9 – 11 pm
The Paducah Symphony Orchestra, its choruses and the Murray State University Concert Choir performance of December 13, 2014 in all its glory. 

Jazzman Christmas
Sunday, December 21, 1 – 2 pm
Join Jazzman for Christmas jazz favorites including legendary Louie Armstrong reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. 

The Jive House Funky Christmas  
Sunday, December 21, 7 – 8 pm; Thursday, December 25, 9 – 10 pm
Get out your dancing shoes and get down with Brad and John bringing the Christmas funk.

A Celtic Christmas Sojourn 2014  
Monday, December 22, 11 am – 1 pm
WGBH’s host Brian O’Donovan tells Celtic stories and presents great traditional singers and instrumentalists in the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.

Advent Voices - Classical Channel Broadcast  
Monday, December 22, 1 pm – 2 pm 
Our classical channel’s Lynne Warfel hosts an hour of beautiful vocal music inspired by and written for Advent including the selections “In the Bleak Mid- winter” and “Ave Maria.”

Light and Gold: The Music Of Eric Whitacre   - Classical Channel Broadcast
Monday, December 22, 2 pm – 3 pm 
Eric Whitacre is one of America’s most popular composers. During this one-hour Christmas program of Whitacre’s works, he joins co-host Brian Newhouse to add the often-colorful backstory of how each piece came to be. 

A Café Jazz Christmas with George Eldred  
Monday, December 22 9 – 11 pm
George’s knowledge of the extensive jazz collection at WKMS means a merry jazz concert tonight! 

A Chanticleer Christmas  
Tuesday, December 23 11 am – Noon
Nothing signals the beginning of the holiday season like 12 men singing in beautifully blended harmony. Hear Chanticleer perform beloved Christmas songs from Gregorian chant to Gospel. 

Messiah  from Washington National Cathedral  
Tuesday, December 23 Noon – 1 pm
Enjoy this annual performance of Handel’s Messiah at Washington’s National Cathedral with an ensemble of the finest soloists from the US and abroad. 

A Baroque Christmas in the New World  - Classical Channel Broadcast
Tuesday, December 23, 1 - 2 pm
Hear music from 17th and 18th century Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, including a cantata and three freestanding works by Manuel de Sumaya — a prominent Mexican composer of the colonial period of New Spain. 

Carson Myre Youth Performance Series: Highlights from Murray High School Winter Concert & Murray Woman's Club Holiday Open House  - Classical Channel Broadcast
Tuesday, December 23 2 – 3 pm
Enjoy highlights from Murray High School's Winter Concert recorded live at Lovett Auditorium on December 11 and the Murray Woman's Club Holiday Open House. This production features the Murray High School Concert Choir & Symphonic Band and the Calloway County High School Choir.

A Café Jazz Christmas with Todd Hill  
Tuesday, December 23 9 – 11 pm
Todd’s Christmas Special includes loads of vintage holiday recordings including Lionel Hampton’s  “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” and a practically unknown Harry James version of “White Christmas.” 

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Wednesday, December 24 9 – 11 am
The 30-voice King’s College Choir performs the  Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of readings and music live from Cambridge, England. 

A Kentucky Christmas
Wednesday, December 24 11 am – Noon
WKMS presents selections from A Kentucky  Christmas, edited by George Ella Lyon and published by The University Press of Kentucky, voiced by  wonderful WKMS volunteers. 

Holidays from MSU 2014  
Wednesday, December 24 Noon – 1 pm
Murray State students with the Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers and Jazz Orchestra celebrate the season with music and song. 

Carson Myre Youth Performance Series: Highlights from Clark Elementary Holiday Celebration and Paducah Tilghman High School's Winter Concert  - Classical Channel Broadcast
Wednesday, December 24, 2 – 3 pm
Enjoy highlights from Clark Elementary's Christmas celebration and Paducah Tilghman High School's Winter Concert.

A Café Jazz Christmas Eve with Brian Clardy  
Wednesday, December 24 9 – 11 pm
It’s Christmas Eve and Dr. Clardy celebrates with classic selections by John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. 

Encore: Carson Myre Youth Performance Series: Highlights from Murray High School Winter Concert & Murray Woman's Club Holiday Open House  - Classical Channel Broadcast
Thursday, December 25, 9 – 10 am
Enjoy highlights from Murray High School's Winter Concert recorded live at Lovett Auditorium on December 11 and the Murray Woman's Club Holiday Open House. This production features the Murray High School Concert Choir and Symphonic Band and the Calloway County High School Choir.

Encore: Carson Myre Youth Performance Series: Highlights from Clark Elementary Holiday Celebration and Paducah Tilghman High School's Winter Concert  - Classical Channel Broadcast
Wednesday, December 25, 10 – 11 am
Enjoy highlights from Clark Elementary's Christmas celebration and Paducah Tilghman High School's Winter Concert.

St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Thursday, December 25, 11 am – 1 pm
Enjoy a service in song and word from Minnesota’s St. Olaf College with hymns, carols and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity. 

St. Olaf Christmas Festival - Classical Channel Broadcast
Thursday, December 25, 1 – 3 pm
Enjoy a service in song and word from Minnesota’s St. Olaf College with hymns, carols and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity. 

Funky Jazz Christmas with George Eldred  
Thursday, December 25, 10 – 11 pm
Funky Christmas music continues with Santa’s jazz messenger George. 

Beyond the Edge: Best Albums of the Year
Saturday, December 27, 8 - 11 pm
Tracy Ross counts down his favorite abums of 2014.

Weekend Energy Best of the Year Extravaganza
Saturday, December 27, 11 pm - 1 am
Matt McG hosts a two-hour mix of the best electronic music from around the world released in 2014 featuring Porter Robinson, The Magician, Tensnake, Tritonal and two dozen others.

Toast of the Nation — LIVE! 
Wednesday, December 31 8 pm – 3 am
An NPR tradition every New Year’s Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation takes you live to jazz parties across the country through the wee hours of the morning. 

New Year’s Day from Vienna 2015 — LIVE!
Thursday, January 1 10 am – Noon
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. Happy New Year!

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
Related Content