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November 23, 2011

KEDM Public Radio opens holiday season with Christmas Joy

KEDM Public Radio, 90.3 FM, will open the holiday season with a series of special programs.

The first offering will begin Friday, Dec. 2, with "Christmas Joy" at 12:30 p.m., which features "Carol to the King," "Baby, What You Going to Be?," "How Far Is It to Bethlehem?," and "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy."

On Monday, Dec. 5, at 12:30 p.m., "Ring in the Season" will play "Once in Royal David's City," "A Festival of Carols" with Bells on Temple Square, "Ring, Christmas Bells," and "Hallelujah!" from "Messiah."

"A Tradition of Christmas" will play Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 12:30 p.m. It will feature "Joy to the World," "O, Come, All Ye Faithful," "Angels, From the Realms of Glory," and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

"Welcome Christmas!" will be heard Thursday, Dec. 8, from 1-2 p.m. This lively musical program is a perennial broadcast favorite featuring the Minneapolis-based ensemble, VocalEssence.

This year's concert celebrates the holidays with the warmth of traditional carols and the exhilaration of new songs for the season.

The concert features a garland of carols from Sweden, and the world premiere of this year's "Welcome Christmas!"

The station will feature "Music from the Messiah" Friday, Dec. 9, at 12:30 p.m. "And the Glory of the Lord," "For Unto Us a Child is Born," "There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field," "Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates," and "Messiah" will be heard.

"A Carolina Christmas from Biltmore Estate" will play Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1-2 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 17, from 7-8 p.m.

Featuring soloists and large ensembles performing a rich variety of songs, this festive celebration of holiday music will be broadcast from Biltmore Estate, a magnificent acoustic venue.

Center stage is the rich voice and warm spirit of two-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Kathy Mattea, singing fresh arrangements from her Grammy award-winning holiday album "Good News."

Mattea is accompanied by the Carolinas' premiere choral ensemble, VOX, as well as the Baroque/Celtic trio The Beggar Boys.

Listeners may enjoy "Rejoice and Be Glad with the King Singers" Monday, Dec. 12, at 12:30 p.m., which will feature "Sussex Carol," "One December, Bright and Clear," "O Holy Night," and "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

"Echoes of Christmas" will continue the holiday treats Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 1-2 p.m.

This collection of the best and most moving choral classics celebrating Christmas features the Dale Warland Singers' performances pulled together from the ensemble's signature holiday concert.

Also on Dec. 13 from 7-8 p.m., listeners will hear "Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs."

The choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation – will reportedly present a spine-tingling concert program.

"The Spirit of Christmas with Brian Stokes Mitchell" will air Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 12:30 p.m. and will feature Processional on "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," "The Friendly Beasts," and the story of Longfellow's Christmas narrated by Edward Herrmann.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, from 1-2 p.m., the station will air "Leroy Anderson Christmas."

Listeners will hear classic Christmas arrangements and original music by Anderson as well as his explanations of how he wrote some of his famous Christmas music and what Christmas means to him.

"Jazz Piano Christmas XXII" will also play Dec. 15 from 7-8 p.m. This National Public Radio Music presentation features National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Barry Harris, Jason Moran, Eddie Palmieri, and up-and-comer Alfredo Rodriguez performing unique piano arrangements of their favorite holiday songs.

"One Silent Night with Walter Cronkite" will play Friday, Dec. 16, at 12:30 p.m. and will feature "Joy to the World," "I Saw Three Ships," "Silent Night, Holy Night," and the story of a WWI Christmas Day miracle narrated by Walter Cronkite.

For a complete listing of the Holiday programs, with dates and times, visit the KEDM Public Radio Web site, www.kedm.org.

KEDM Public Radio is licensed to the University of Louisiana at Monroe and broadcasts a line-up of in-depth news, classical music and jazz along with special entertainment programs from studios located on the ULM campus.

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