Christmas and Chanukah Specials

DAILY SCHEDULE
For program descriptions, scroll further down the page

Dec. 3
6pm - First Presidency's Christmas Devotional

Dec. 8-12
8am and 4pm - Salt Lake Children's Choir at Christmas

Dec. 14
3pm - Handel's Messiah

Dec. 15-19
8am, Noon, and 4pm - High School Choir Festival

Dec. 15
8pm - Candles Burning Brightly

Dec. 16
8pm - Carols, Customs, and Candlelight

Dec. 17
8pm - A Chanticleer Christmas

Dec. 19
5pm - Welcome Christmas
8pm - Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain

Dec. 20
11am - BYU Celebration of Christmas
5pm - The Sound of Cinnamon
8pm - St. Olaf Christmas Festival
9pm - Winter Holidays Around the World

Dec. 21
3pm - St. Olaf Christmas Festival
4pm - A Chanticleer Christmas
6pm - BYU Celebration of Christmas

Dec. 22
5pm - In Winter's Glow
8pm - A Chanukah Celebration

Dec. 23
5pm - Carols, Customs, and Candlelight
8pm - The Sound of Cinnamon

Dec. 24
8am - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (LIVE)
4pm - BYU Celebration of Christmas
8pm - Welcome Christmas

Dec. 25
12pm - BYU Celebration of Christmas
4pm - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (REPEAT)
8pm - Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain

BYU Celebration of Christmas

December 20 at 11am | December 21 at 6pm | December 24 at 4pm | December 25 at noon

Join us for this concert recorded live earlier this month. Performances by the BYU Philharmonic, Singers, Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus, and Men's Chorus.

Candles Burning Brightly

December 15 at 8pm

A delightful hour for everyone to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights! There is lots of music from Jewish communities worldwide, a hilarious lesson on preparing a classic Chanukah dish, and a timeless and touching holiday story that brings light into every home.

Carols, Customs, and Candlelight

December 16 at 8pm | December 23 at 5pm

Andrea Blain explores music and customs that have roots in ancient winter celebrations and traditional Christmas festivals. The music features classical ensembles and soloists like Apollo’s Fire and Bryn Terfel, as well as traditional instruments like harp, fiddle and mandolin.

A Chanticleer Christmas

December 17 at 8pm | December 21 at 4pm

The beloved, Grammy-winning men’s chorus brings its “rich, intricately blended sound” (The Washington Post) to its signature holiday celebration. The centuries-spanning program ranges from Renaissance masterworks to roof-raising spirituals.

A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago A Cappella

December 22 at 8pm

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.

Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain: An Irish-Appalachian Celebration

December 19 at 8pm | December 25 at 8pm

A communal celebration of the American immigrant experience, sharing the spirit and history of Appalachia’s Irish and Scottish roots through music. The 35-member ensemble Apollo’s Fire includes 10 children and brings a joyous concert experience with the warmth of period instruments. Fiddlers, medieval harp, hammered dulcimer, bagpipes, singers, and children’s voices join together to evoke the Celtic roots of an Appalachian holiday.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

December 24 at 8am (LIVE) | December 25 at 4pm (REPEAT)

The legendary music and spoken-word broadcast from the chapel of King’s College in Cambridge, England. Since 1928, this service of Biblical readings with choral and organ selections has been broadcast live by the BBC. It’s now a treasured worldwide Christmas Eve tradition.

First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional

December 7 at 6pm (LIVE)

Christmas messages from General Authorities and Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with music by the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

Handel's Messiah

December 14 at 3pm

In the summer of 1741, George Frideric Handel was at the peak of his musical prowess, but depressed and in debt. He began setting Charles Jennens' Biblical libretto to music at his usual breakneck speed. In just 24 days, Messiah was complete. Right up to the day of the premiere, Messiah was troubled by production difficulties and last-minute rearrangements of the score. Despite these difficulties, the oratorio soon became a favorite of audiences, with a popularity that lasts to this day. Join us for a recording featuring soloists Sonya Yoncheva, Tamara Mumford, Rolando Villazon, and Bryn Terfel with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square conducted by Mack Wilberg

In Winter's Glow

December 22 at 5pm

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.

The Nutcracker

December 7 at 3pm

The complete ballet by Tchaikovsky about Clara's magical journey to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Charles Mackerras conducts the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Salt Lake Children's Choir at Christmas

December 9-13 at 8am and 4pm

Join Classical 89 for selections from the choir’s 2024 Christmas concert in the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

St. Olaf Christmas Festival

December 20 at 8pm | December 21 at 3pm

For one and a half centuries, St. Olaf 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 their legacy.

Welcome Christmas

December 19 at 5pm | December 24 at 8pm

Welcome Christmas is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral ensembles, conducted by Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz. Join host Bonnie North for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of three beloved Latvian carols by composer Ēriks Ešenvalds.

Winter Holidays Around the World

December 18 at 8pm | December 20 at 9pm

Winter holidays are celebrated around the world, and their music is wonderful to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe.

The Sound of Cinnamon

December 20 at 5pm | December 23 at 8pm

What does hygge mean to you? Maybe it means friendship, laughter, or more concrete things like warmth, light, seasonal food and drink. It might make you think of sitting by the fire on a cold winter night, wearing your favorite oversized sweater, reading a book, and sipping cinnamon tea. In this special, Jake Armerding invites you to experience coziness and contentment with a hygge soundtrack perfect for finding your favorite pair of slippers and putting your feet up.