Enjoy seasonal favorites and a variety of Christmas and Hanukkah programs. Here is a day-by-day guide to all of our special holiday programming for the 2024 season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
Seasonal specials are presented on YourClassical MPR's stations and stream.
Programs — on-air and online
Listen to these programs on YourClassical MPR stations and online at the following times. Linked titles go to more information and on-demand audio (when available) to listen to the program at any time.
This listing will be updated regularly throughout the season with links and audio as they become available, so check back often.
All times are central.
Nov. 27, 6 p.m. — Every Good Thing: Giving thanks and celebrating the gift of music. Hosted by Andrea Blain.
Nov. 27, 7 p.m. — Songs of Thanks: The acclaimed octet Cantus weaves together stories and songs celebrating gratitude and community.
Nov. 28, 10 a.m. — Songs of Thanks (encore; see Nov. 27).
Nov. 28, 11 a.m. — Every Good Thing (encore; see Nov. 27).
Dec. 1, 6 p.m. — All Is Bright: An hourlong program of contemplative choral and solo vocal music of the season. Hosted by Lynne Warfel.
Dec. 3, 7 p.m. — Welcome Christmas: VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral ensembles, presents traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of three Latvian carols by composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. Hosted by Bonnie North.
Dec. 4, 7 p.m. — Christmas at Luther: Love, the Rose, Is on the Way: Each December, the Center for Faith and Life at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, rings out with the sacred and the exuberant sounds of the Christmas season. Enjoy this 2023 program.
Dec. 8, 3 p.m. — St. Olaf Christmas Festival (live): The college in Northfield, Minnesota, presents one of the nation's most treasured holiday celebrations. This year’s event, Our Hope for Years to Come, will be livestreamed on YourClassical.org and aired on YourClassical MPR. Hosted by Valerie Kahler.
Dec. 9, 7 p.m. — St. Olaf Christmas Festival: Celebrating 150 Years of St. Olaf College: For one and a half centuries, St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, has been a hub of connections, knowledge and growth. And for more than a century, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival has been a cherished part of that history. Join us as we celebrate that legacy. Hosted by Valerie Kahler.
Dec. 10, 7 p.m. — Carols, Customs and Candlelight: A Celtic Christmas Celebration: Many Christmas songs and carols come from places like Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and other Celtic nations. Explore music and customs that have roots in ancient winter celebrations and traditional Christmas festivals. Hosted by Andrea Blain.
Dec. 11, 7 p.m. — Chanticleer Christmas: Holiday favorites presented live by the superb 12-man ensemble known as "an orchestra of voices," with a centuries-spanning program ranging from Renaissance masterworks to roof-raising spirituals. (Encore from 2023.) Hosted by Steve Staruch.
Dec. 12, 7 p.m. — Carols as Home: A holiday special featuring the Grammy-nominated quintet Imani Winds. Hosted by members of Imani Winds.
Dec. 16, 7 p.m. — Welcome Christmas (encore; see Dec. 3).
Dec. 17, 7 p.m. — Christmas with Cantus: The vocal ensemble Cantus weaves together three holiday stories with time-honored carols and new classics. Hosted by Melissa Ousley.
Dec 18, 7 p.m. — Carols, Customs and Candlelight: A Celtic Christmas Celebration (encore; see Dec. 10).
Dec. 19, 7 p.m. — YourClassical Christmas Favorites: Listen to the top Christmas songs, as ranked by listeners. Hosted by Tom Crann and Valerie Kahler.
Dec. 20, 7 p.m. — In Winter’s Glow: A special featuring music to celebrate the winter solstice, with a program chosen especially to complement the chilly, starry nights of the season. Hosted by Steve Seel.
Dec. 21, 7 p.m. — St. Olaf Christmas Festival: Celebrating 150 Years of St. Olaf College (encore; see Dec. 9).
Dec. 22, 2 p.m. — St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Performs Messiah (live): The SPCO will be joined by an all-star roster of vocal soloists and renowned vocal ensemble the Singers in what is sure to be a wonderful performance of Handel’s master work. Hosted by Steve Seel. On-demand audio will not be available for this program.
Dec. 23, 7 p.m. — Christmas with Cantus (encore; see Dec. 17).
Dec. 24, 9 a.m. — A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: A time-honored service of biblical readings, carols and seasonal classical music, from King's College, Cambridge, England. The live broadcast is followed by an encore on Christmas Eve, with on-demand audio available here for 30 days afterward. Hosted by Michael Barone.
Dec. 24, 7 p.m. — A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (encore).
Dec. 25, noon — YourClassical Christmas Favorites (encore; see Dec. 19).
Dec. 26, 7 p.m. — Candles Burning Brightly: A one-hour celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which runs Dec. 25-Jan. 2. Hosted by Mindy Ratner.
Dec. 29, 7 p.m. — Candles Burning Brightly (encore; see Dec. 26).
Dec. 30, 7 p.m. — In Winter’s Glow (encore; see Dec. 20).
Jan. 1, 2 p.m. — New Year’s Celebration with the Minnesota Orchestra (live): Swing into 2025 with William Eddins and the Minnesota Orchestra, as they perform George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and George Antheil’s Jazz Symphony, along with the brilliant pianist Jon Kimura Parker. Hosted by Melissa Ousley.
Jan. 1, 4 p.m. — Vienna New Year’s Day Special: Usher in the new year with conductor Riccardo Muti and the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic. Listen live at 4 p.m. on Jan. 1 on YourClassical MPR. On-demand audio will not be available for this program.
Programs — online
Enjoy encore presentations of these popular holiday specials from the past now, with on-demand audio.
Anticipation and Celebration: Advent With the Montserrat Boy Choir: One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious boys’ choirs is captured live in its Midwest premiere at the majestic Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Hosted by Steve Staruch.
Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square: A celebration featuring a 360-voice choir, a 150-piece orchestra and a 32-member bell choir.
Echoes of Christmas – A Dale Warland Special: A holiday program featuring the legendary choir leader. Hosted by Steve Staruch.
Giving Thanks: A 25th-anniversary, contemporary celebration of spirit of gratitude. Hosted by John Birge.
Hollywood Holiday: A musical retrospective of our most-cherished Christmas-themed movies.
Hygge Holiday: A mix of wintry and nostalgic classical pieces designed to accompany listeners as they enjoy cozy wintertime activities. Hosted by Elena See.
A Soulful Christmas: An uplifting holiday special that features Black music and composers.
We Stand on Top of the Mountain: A Kwanzaa Celebration: A musical tribute to the Dec. 26-Jan. 1 holiday in which we celebrate African-American culture. Hosted by Jeffrey Yelverton.
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