Holiday Programming

Celebrate the holidays with these specials from SC Public Radio, airing on all of our Music & News stations.

Dec. 18 at 11 a.m.
Welcome Christmas — A perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups, presenting an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries.

Dec. 18 at 12 p.m.
Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Gift to Jazz — Host Jana Lee Ross presents a special filled with warm-hearted sounds to bring together everyone in the family. Vince Guaraldi‘s music to A Charlie Brown Christmas ushers in the sound of the holidays for jazz fans as well as Charlie Brown fans. Songs like “Linus and Lucy,” “Skating” and “Christmas Time Is Here” have become holiday classics and have inspired many a jazz player.

Dec. 19 at 11 a.m.
A Jazz Piano Christmas — Your favorite holiday classics as you’ve never heard them! The Kennedy Center and NPR present A Jazz Piano Christmas, the annual sell-out event featuring jazz-infused renditions of the season’s most-loved music.

Dec. 19 at 12 p.m.
YourClassical Christmas Favorites — Join us this holiday season as we count down the top Christmas songs as voted by you in a new hour-long special.

Dec. 20 at 11 a.m.
A Chanticleer Christmas — The beloved, Grammy-winning men’s chorus brings its rich, intricately blended sound to its signature holiday celebration. The centuries-spanning program ranges from Renaissance masterworks to roof-raising spirituals.

Dec. 23 at 11 a.m.
Three Tales of Christmas with Cantus — Vocal ensemble Cantus weaves together three holiday stories with time-honored carols and new classics. Blending narration and song, the program features Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Christine Lê’s The Hawai’i Snowman, alongside Mark Twain’s “A Letter from Santa Claus,” offering an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and joy of the holiday season.

Dec. 23 at 12:00 p.m.
A Special Thistle & Shamrock Christmas — Join Fiona Ritchie for a winter walk along the banks of the River Tay in Scotland, accompanied by music from the Celtic Christmas repertoire.

Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Live) — An annual and beloved Christmas Eve tradition, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is an extraordinary and memorable service of word and music from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England. [Note This program will re-air that evening at 7:00 p.m., pre-empting Chicago Symphony Orchestra.]

Dec. 24 at 12 p.m.
The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays — Join host Michael Phillips for an hour-long special devoted to holiday and wintertime movie music, from Alexandre Desplat’s folk-inspired score for “The Grand Budapest Hotel” to Bernard Herrmann’s bracing sleigh ride accompaniment composed for the Orson Welles drama “The Magnificent Ambersons.”

Dec. 25 at 11 a.m.
ColaJazz Presents: Jingle Bell Jazz — Swing into the holiday spirit with this local production. ColaJazz Presents host Mark Rapp and other South Carolina jazz artists perform an hour of seasonal tunes recorded live at Trustus Theatre in Columbia, SC.

Dec. 25 at 12 p.m.
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 and informative show featuring choral music set to Chanukah texts.

Dec. 26 at 11 a.m.
Carols as Home with Imani Winds — This program features a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today.

Dec. 26 at 12 p.m.
Candles Burning Brightly — A delightful hour for everyone to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights! Lots of music from Jewish communities around the world, plus a hilarious lesson on how to prepare a classic Chanukah dish, and a timeless and touching holiday story that brings light into every home.

Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
In Winter's Glow — A winter solstice program, with modern classical sounds for the longest night of the year, chosen especially to complement the chilly, starry nights of the season.

Dec. 30 at 11 a.m.
Hanukkah Lights — This NPR favorite returns with some of our favorite Hanukkah stories from the archives.

Dec. 30 at 12 p.m.
Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin — Winter holidays are celebrated around the world, and their music is wonderful to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe.

Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Toast of the Nation — An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is the perfect audio complement for the occasion.

Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
New Year's Day from Vienna (live) — This ever-popular annual New Year’s Day Concert will be performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Riccardo Muti in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna.