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WDAV Holiday Specials

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A Carolina Christmas from Biltmore Estate with Kathy Mattea
Kathy MatteaA festive celebration of the Appalachian folk traditions and other styles native to the Carolinas featuring two-time female vocalist of the year, Kathy Mattea, Charlotte choral ensemble VOX, and Celtic ensemble The Beggar Boys. Hosted by Jennifer Foster. An original WDAV production.

Saturday, 11/28, 3 p.m.  Sponsored by Knox Realty / The Blossom Shop
Sunday, 12/13, 2 p.m.  Sponsored by Charlotte Symphony
Sunday, 12/20, 2 p.m.  Sponsored by Knox Realty / Wooden Stone
Friday, 12/25, noon  Sponsored by Knox Realty / Charlotte Symphony

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The Spectacular Legacy of Erich Kunzel Erich KunzelNaomi Lewin of Classics for Kids hosts a program remembering the man who founded the Cincinnati Pops and left behind a legacy of musical entertainment and showmanship that will never be duplicated.

Saturday, 11/28, 5 p.m. & Saturday, 12/19, 7 p.m.
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Marilyn Horne Gala Concert Marilyn HornePerformances at Carnegie Hall by some of the world’s greatest singers including Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, and Thomas Quasthoff celebrating Marilyn Horne's 75th birthday. Hosted by Fred Child and Margaret Juntwait. Emceed by Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey.

Sunday, 11/29, 5 p.m. & Saturday, 12/5, 5 p.m.
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Charlotte Chamber Music First Tuesday Concert LIVE! Melanie RussellMike McKay hosts a special concert from First Presbyterian Church in uptown Charlotte. Centerpiece of the concert will be Mozart’s soaring Exsultate Jubilate, featuring soprano Melanie Russell. And the marvelous teenage talent Sarah Sullivan is front and center in the Flute Concerto in D by Mozart contemporary Josef Myslivecek. An original WDAV production.
Tuesday, 12/1, 1 p.m. & Saturday, 12/5, 3 p.m.
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A VOX Christmas from St. John's 2009 LIVE! VOX at St. John's Baptist Church in Charlotte, NCJoin us for a new WDAV holiday tradition! WDAV’s Jennifer Foster, conductor David Tang, and the innovative, dynamic, and exciting choral ensemble VOX are back again for a festive program of holiday favorites and new discoveries. Special guests for this year’s program include the West Charlotte Senior High School Choir. An original WDAV production.
Sponsored by Bragg Financial Advisors

Friday, 12/4, noon, Saturday, 12/5, 4 p.m., & Sunday, 12/13, 5 p.m.

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Leroy Anderson Christmas Leroy AndersonThis one hour program contains classic Christmas arrangements and original music by Leroy Anderson. Hear the composer himself talking about how he wrote some of his famous Christmas music and what Christmas meant to him. Hosted by conductor Leonard Slatkin and the composer's son, Kurt Anderson.

Saturday, 12/5, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, 12/15, 7 p.m.  Sponsored by JL Smith & Associates
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New Classics Holiday Edition

Joe BrantWDAV's Joe Brant hosts an extended two-hour sampler of the best releases of 2009 to help you with your holiday gift list, including the latest seasonal CDs. An original WDAV production.

Sunday, 12/6, 4 p.m.  Sponsored by Friends of the Arts at Davidson / JL Smith & Associates
Saturday 12/12, 3 p.m.


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Reel Music Holiday Special: Christmas at the Movies Frank DominguezFrank Dominguez and film music scholar Neil Lerner of Davidson College sample some of the most memorable scores from holiday films. An original WDAV production.
Sponsored by Our Town Cinemas

Saturday, 12/12, 2 p.m.
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Hanukkah Lights 2009

dreidelAcclaimed authors explore Hanukkah traditions in new, original stories written expressly for the program. Hosted by Murray Horwitz and Susan Stamberg.

Sunday, 12/12, 5 p.m. & Wednesday, 12/16, 7 p.m.


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Happy Joyous Hannukah Murray Horwitz hosts a concert from the NYC-based 2006 Grammy-award-winning band, the Klezmatics.

Saturday 12/12, 6 p.m.

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The Beggar Boys: A Celtic Christmas LIVE! The Beggar BoysFor the first time ever, WDAV shares a great Davidson holiday tradition with the Carolinas and the world: Kate Minogue and The Beggar Boys in their annual holiday concerts of songs, tunes, stories, and dancing to welcome the season and warm the spirit. Rachel Stewart hosts live from St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson. An original WDAV production.
Sponsored by Wooden Stone / Lake Norman Oncology

Sunday, 12/13, 3 p.m.
Sunday, 12/20, 1 p.m.
Saturday, 12/26, 2 p.m.
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Chanukah in Story and Song Western WindThe Western Wind Vocal Ensemble performs traditional Ladino music of Medieval Spanish Jews, Eastern European Yiddish melodies, contemporary Israeli songs and much more. Leonard Nimoy is host and narrator.

Sunday, 12/13, 6 p.m. & Saturday, 12/17, 7 p.m.
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Christmas Vespers from Davidson College ornamentEach year WDAV presents a recording of the annual Advent service from Davidson College Presbyterian Church. An original WDAV production.
Sponsored by Wooden Stone

Sunday, 12/13, 7 p.m.
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A Chanticleer Christmas

ChanticleerThe San Francisco based men’s chorus is one of the world’s best male ensembles, recognized worldwide for their brilliant technique and musicality. This year’s program is recorded live on December 10th in San Francisco.
Sponsored by Mike, Susan & Jackson Daisley

Monday, 12/14, 7 p.m. & Friday, 12/25, 4 p.m.


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A Harpist's Christmas with Yolanda Kondonassis

Yolanda KondonassisAmerica’s premier harpist celebrates the season with treasures of Christmas harp music spotlighting her heavenly instrument, both alone and with Joshua Smith, flute and Cynthia Phelps, viola.

Saturday, 12/19, 2 p.m. & Monday, 12/21, 7 p.m.


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St. Olaf Christmas Festival ornamentA service in song and word that has become one of the nation’s most cherished holiday celebrations. 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, 12/19, 3 p.m.   Sponsored by Lenoir Rhyne University / The Blossom Shop
Christmas Day, 2 p.m.  Sponsored by Lenoir Rhyne University
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Cantus: All is Calm ornamentUsing the diary entries of WWI soldiers and beautiful new arrangements of Christmas favorites sung by the male chorus Cantus, All is Calm tells the true story of men who had been trying to kill each other in the fields of France in 1914, but spontaneously put down their guns, walked across no-man’s land, and sang together.

Saturday, 12/19, 5 p.m.
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Echoes of Christmas 2009 ornamentThe Dale Warland Singers provided magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years, and were acclaimed as America’s premier choir. Drawing upon the archive of their live performances, Dale Warland creates a very special Christmas musical treat.

Saturday, 12/19, 6 p.m. & Thursday, 12/24, 9 p.m.
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Choirs and Carols: An NPR Christmas Lisa SimeoneHear musicians from around the world in NPR's performance studio as they share special holiday moments, including ancient harmonies from Trio Medieval, traditional carols from the Riga Dome Boys Choir, the Pittsburgh Brass, and Trio Voronezh tuning up a balalaika or two. Lisa Simeone hosts.

Saturday, 12/19, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, 12/22, 7 p.m.  Sponsored by Wooden Stone
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Christmas around the Country

Lisa SimeoneThe best of holiday music-making from coast to coast. NPR takes you from churches to concert halls, auditoriums to town halls all across the nation in search of performances that express the best of the holiday season.

Saturday, 12/19, 10 p.m. & Wednesday, 12/23, 7 p.m.


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Welcome Christmas! Vocal EssenceA perennial favorite featuring the Minneapolis-based ensemble VocalEsssence. Recognized internationally as one of America's premier choral arts organizations, VocalEssence is led by the visionary Philip Brunelle.

Saturday, 12/19, 11 p.m. & Friday, 12/25, 7 p.m.
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Biscuits and Bach: Baroque for Christmas Rachel StewartRachel Stewart hosts a special edition of WDAV’s acclaimed Sunday morning program, featuring the timeless works capturing the mystery and the majesty of the Christmas story from the era’s greatest composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Arcangelo Corelli, Giovanni Gabrieli, Michael Praetorius, and Heinrich Schutz. Plus a visit to the Winkler Bakery at Old Salem to hear how they make holiday goodies the old-fashioned way. An original WDAV production.
Sponsored by Winthrop University

Sunday, 12/20, 8 a.m.
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A Paul Winter Solstice Concert Paul WinterThe holiday tradition continues with Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Celebration. A dynamic musical celebration in the extraordinary acoustics of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral - New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine - highlight the music of the Winter Consort with Gospel singer Theresa Thomason, Brazilian singer/guitarist Renato Braz, and woodwind master Paul McCandless.
Sponsored by Friends of the Arts at Davidson

Sunday, 12/20, 4 p.m.
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Christmas with the Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs Spelman Glee ClubThis is one of the great holiday traditions in America, with the choirs of two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation getting together to present a spine-tingling concert program.This encore presentation features the best work of the last several years.

Sunday, 12/20, 6 p.m.
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Christmas Eve on WDAV

Jennifer FosterHoliday favorites throughout the day drawn from the vast collection of seasonal recordings in the WDAV music library. Mike McKay hosts in the morning and Jennifer Foster hosts in the afternoon.
Sponsored by The Pines at Davidson


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A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols LIVE! Choir of King's College CambridgeThis trans-Atlantic live broadcast tradition continues with the world-famous Christmas Eve service from the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Sponsored by Mike Daisley / The Blossom Shop

Thursday, 12/24, 10 a.m.
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Pipedreams Christmas Organist Maureen HowellOn a Christmas edition of American Public Media's show Pipedreams, Charlotte organist Maureen Howell of St. John’s Baptist Church performs a Christmas medley on the church's 2008 Letourneau organ. WDAV recorded this selection during our 2008 "VOX Christmas from St. John’s" live broadcast.

Sunday, 12/20 at 7 p.m.
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Performance Today Christmas Eve Edition Fred ChildFred Child presents performances of holiday music from concerts around the country.
Sponsored by Matrix Wealth Advisors

Thursday, 12/24, 5 p.m.
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Handel’s Messiah Performed by Apollo’s Fire Cleveland’s acclaimed Baroque orchestra, joined by chorus and soloists, presents George Frederic Handel’s beloved oratorio.
Sponsored by Abbey and Rick Lejk

Thursday, 12/24, 7 p.m.
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Night Music for a Christmas Eve Frank DominguezWDAV’s Frank Dominguez hosts a special selection of gentle, contemplative holiday classics capturing the mystery and reverence of the season.

Thursday, 12/24, 10 p.m.
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Christmas Morning with Mike McKay Mike McKayThe warm presence of WDAV’s “morning man” is complemented by a wealth of holiday favorites drawn from the station’s extensive music library.
Sponsored by Walker Pediatrics and Wells Daisley Rabon, PA

Friday 12/25, 6 a.m. - noon
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Performance Today Christmas Edition Fred Child is back with more seasonal selections recorded in memorable holiday concerts around the country.

Friday, 12/25, 5 p.m.
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Christmas Night Music with Frank Dominguez

Frank DominguezFrank Dominguez offers another special selection of gentle, contemplative holiday classics capturing the mystery and reverence of the season.
Sponsored by Friends of the Arts at Davidson

Thursday, 12/25, 8 p.m.


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WDAV's Boxing Day Brunch Christopher Warren-GreenJoin Mike McKay and his special guest, Charlotte Symphony Music Director Designate Christopher Warren-Greene, to help WDAV observe its first Boxing Day celebration. In the UK Boxing Day is an even bigger deal than Christmas in terms of festivities, food and music. You’ll get insights into the origins and observance of the holiday and enjoy lots of English music in the process. An original WDAV production.

Saturday, 12/26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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WDAV Pops New Year's Eve Frank DominguezFrank Dominguez changes gears from his usual Night Music pace to present a high-spirited program of light classics, pops arrangements and tasteful crossover selections. An original WDAV production.

Thursday, 12/31, 8 p.m.
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New Year's Day from Vienna 2010 LIVE! ornamentDirect from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, it’s the most popular classical music concert in the world with the Vienna Philharmonic performing waltzes, polkas and more. George Prêtre returns to conducto this festive concert.
Sponsored by Abbey and Rick Lejk

Friday, 1/1/10, 11 a.m.
Saturday, 1/2/10, 3 p.m.
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