WPSU radio will once again broadcast the live performance of "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" from King's College on December 24 beginning at 10:00am. The BBC production has been on every year since 1928, with the exception of 1930. Broadcasts even continued during WWII after the Chapel's stained glass had been removed for safety and there was no heating. During the War, the venue was not disclosed on-air. The original Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Chapel in Cambridge in 1918 goes back further in history, to a different time and location: Christmas Eve 1880, and a temporary wooden structure which in unlikely fashion was serving as the Cathedral in Truro, before work commenced on the current building.
From The GM's Desk
Happy Holidays! It’s been a great year and I greatly appreciate everyone’s time and talent that contributed to our successes. We partnered with the College of Communications to bring important news literacy information to citizens across the commonwealth, we’ve won new awards this year, we’ve increased the diversity of our representation on our Board of Representatives, we’ve upgraded some technology and cut our utility usage, we’ve filled our development and production pipeline during an economically challenging time, we’ve increased our educational reach, we’ve kept our radio storytelling and reporting strong and we’ve had intensive training and experimented with our digital presence. These are only the tip of a very large iceberg of accomplishments. Thank you to everyone who made these possible. I sincerely hope everyone can take some time to rest and relax this holiday break. You deserve it!
All my best ...
Birthdays
Steve Nelson – 12/15
Lindsey Whissel Fenton – 12/20
Michael Klein – 12/20
Tyler Wilkinson – 12/23
Cole Cullen – 12/24
Emily Reddy – 12/26
Jeff Hughes – 12/27
Scott Erdenberger – 12/29
WPSU Radio Highlights
It's The Holiday Season !!!
Hannukkah Lights 2022 - Saturday, December 17, 6:00 p.m.
This NPR favorite returns with the best of the best Hanukkah Lights stories from the last 30 years, hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
Jazz Night in America: a Holiday Celebration - Friday, December 23, 10:00 p.m.
This year's Jazz Night in America holiday special will feature drummer Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O, a ruckus band recorded at Jazz at Lincoln Center that flip seasonal songs on their head while inserting humor and joyful swing, and new takes on classics in this special episode. Christian McBride hosts.
Jazz Piano Christmas 2022 - Friday, December 23, 11:00 p.m.
Check out your favorite holiday classics as you’ve never heard them! This year, our annual sell-out event spotlights ferociously talented Japanese musical phenom Hiromi, Mountain Stage’s Bob Thompson, and Bolivian prodigy José André Montaño, chosen as one of the Kennedy Center’s “Next 50” leaders.
A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols - Saturday, December 24, 10:00 a.m.
Join us for the annual live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of Biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal classical music. This special will be presented by one of the world’s foremost choirs of men and boys, performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Christmas Memories with Dee Alexander - Saturday, December 24, 6:00 p.m
Christmas is time for celebration, family, and togetherness. And although the weather outside may be cold, Dee Alexander’s music and stories are sure to keep you warm and hopeful through the holiday season. In this special, Dee shares songs that inspire celebration and spark nostalgia for the holiday, spinning classics like Nat King Cole’s “The
Christmas Song" and Mahalia Jackson’s "No Room at the Inn."
American Routes - Saturday, December 24, 7:00 p.m
Host Nick Spitzer brings you an eclectic mix of American music in a special holiday edition of the show.
The Local Groove - Saturday, December 24, 9:00 p.m
Musicians with roots in central and northern Pennsylvania offer seasonal tunes in this holiday edition of WPSU’s local music showcase.
Memphis Ukulele Band Christmas - Saturday, December 24, 10:00 p.m
Beale Street Caravan features the Memphis Ukulele Band as they help us celebrate Christmas. We’ll hear a performance captured at Lafayette's Music Hall, and later in the program we get to sit down and catch up with the band. Grammy nominated blues man, Guy Davis, will be with us to deliver an installment of the Blues Hall of Fame, an exploration of the lives of the pioneers and innovators enshrined in the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, brought to you by the Blues Foundation.
The Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here - Sunday, December 25, 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon, this program features arrangements of music by Vince Guaraldi and Luther Henderson as well as traditional favorites from "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and more – timeless classics infused with jazz and lush harmonies.
Christmas with the King’s Singers - Sunday, December 25, 12:00 p.m.
It’s an a cappella Christmas from England with the King’s Singers, one of the world’s most celebrated vocal ensembles. In an exclusive New York appearance recorded at The Greene Space, this male sextet — consummate entertainers with a delightfully British wit — perform timeless carols, Christmas classics and new arrangements in their impeccable vocal blend. WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon hosts.
A Mountain Stage Holiday - Sunday, December 25, 8:00 p.m.
Join Mountain Stage host Larry Groce for an hour filled with beautiful music to mark the season. The show features special guests Holly Cole, Joan Baez, Bruce Cockburn, Loudon Wainwright III, The Roches, Kathy Mattea and more. All performances were recorded live on the Mountain Stage.
Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas - Sunday, December 25, 9:00 p.m.
Mark O’Connor, famous bluegrass fiddler and respected American composer, leads the O’Connor Band and special guest Nancy Ives, principal cellist of the Oregon Symphony, in An Appalachian Christmas . Hear holiday favorites including “The Cherry Tree Carol,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Carol of the Bells,” and more.
2022 Remembered from The Current - Saturday, December 31, 6:00 p.m.
Join The Current in honoring the life, music, and legacy of artists we lost this year with 2022 Remembered from The Current. This hour-long musical tribute is a celebration of all sounds - from indie to influential - and the perfect way for music lovers to unite in paying homage to the artists who have shaped music history.
From musicians and producers to industry icons, the playlist will feature legends like Ronnie Spector, Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Olivia Newton-John, Meat Loaf, Naomi Judd, Lamont Dozier (Motown Songwriter), and many more. Host Jill Riley will highlight milestones in each artist's life and career, explore their lasting impact on the music world, and spin their most beloved songs.
Toast of the Nation - Saturday, December 31, 9:00 p.m.
An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is festive jazz for New Year’s Eve. Hear sets from Ibrahim Maalouf, Lizz Wright, Ranky Tanky and Chucho Valdés.
WPSU Television Highlights
20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir - Friday, December 16 at 9:00 pm
Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell joins the Choir and Orchestra for this two-hour 20th anniversary retrospective with performances from Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Gladys Knight, Angela Lansbury, Hugh Bonneville, Renee Fleming and more.
Mary Barry’s Ultimate Christmas - Monday, December 19 at 8:00 pm
Join the beloved British home cook and three special friends as they prepare her ultimate Christmas feast with all the trimmings. From the traditional turkey to her classic Christmas pudding, it's the perfect recipe for a deliciously festive holiday.
The Letter: A Message for Our Earth - Wednesday, December 21 at 8:00 pm
Experience Pope Francis' letter to care for our planet—interwoven with personal stories from five characters on their voyages of discovery and solving perhaps the biggest globally defining issue of our time: climate change.
Christmas Eve / Day Special Lineup
Join us for a special lineup of special programming to ring in the holiday!
Saturday, December 24
8:00 PM Christmas at DePaul
9:00 PM St. Olaf Christmas Festival: The Love Divine
10:00 PM Holiday Handbells: The Raleigh Ringers
11:00 PM O Holy Night: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir
Sunday, December 25
Midnight Celebrate & Sing! Glory to the Newborn King
8:00 AM Celebrate & Sing! Glory to the Newborn King
9:00 AM The Spirit of Christmas with Kevin Pauls and Friends
10:00 AM Holiday Handbells: The Raleigh Ringers
11:00 AM The 88th Annual Purdue Christmas Show
Noon Repeat the Sounding Joy: A Concordia Christmas
1:00 PM European Christmas Markets
1:30 PM Rick Steves European Christmas
2:30 PM Christmas in New York: Inside the Plaza
3:15 PM Santa School
4:00 PM Mary Berry’s Ultimate Christmas
5:00 PM Christmas on the Danube
6:00 PM Magic of Christmas in Alsace
6:30 PM Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2021
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2022 - Sunday, December 25 at 9:00 pm
With Christmas approaching, the midwives move to their maternity clinic and are delighted when their first patient is a familiar face. Life in Poplar returns to normal after the tragic train crash, and everyone unites for a festive talent show.
American Masters “Groucho & Cavett” - Tuesday, December 27 at 8:00 pm
Discover the enduring friendship between television personality Dick Cavett and his mentor iconic comedian Groucho Marx. Their relationship is chronicled through interviews with Cavett, archival footage and interviews with George Burns and others.
Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland - December 28-30 at 10:00 pm
Miriam Margolyes and Alan Cumming get cozy traveling in a mobile home, mixing wit and memories as they return to their Scottish roots. This 3-part program is part rediscovery, part revelation, and a total laugh riot, as the two beloved actors embark on a mission to uncover the country of their youth.
United in Song 2022: Ringing in the New Year Together - Saturday, December 31 at 8:00 pm
As we ring in the New Year, we celebrate the extraordinary cultural diversity of our country - from folk and rock to opera, country to hip hop, Broadway to bluegrass, and beyond. This special performance will also reflect on what brings us together as Americans, as we unite through the arts.
Governmental Relations
Federal government funding is due to run out on Dec. 16. A schedule laid out by the committee leaders incorporates passage of a short-term continuing resolution agreement to continue funding at current levels through next week. Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees said late Tuesday night that they have reached a “framework agreement” on Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations that they hope will lead to final spending bills to fund Federal government operation through September 2023.
Stay tuned!
Our best collective voice to all elected officials is to join the Protect My Public Media grassroots effort.
Industry News
PBS Partners With Allen Media Group On Free Livestreams Of Local Stations
PBS announced a partnership Tuesday with Allen Media Group’s Local Now television service to provide free livestreams of local stations and the PBS Kids 24/7 channel. The service will start rolling out over the next few months. The participating PBS stations reach audiences in more than 300 markets and cities. The partnership further expands PBS’ presence beyond broadcast TV. Aside from PBS Passport, its streaming service for members, the network also has livestreams on YouTube TV. (WPSU has been providing live streams of its main channel and WPSU Kids for almost two years.)
John Yang To Anchor ‘PBS News Weekend’
Yang’s first day in the anchor chair is Dec. 31. He succeeds Geoff Bennett, who was recently appointed co-anchor of PBS NewsHour. “With his distinguished background in journalism and his dedication to high standards of the NewsHour, John is the ideal anchor for this important program,” said Sharon Rockefeller, CEO for WETA in Washington, D.C., and president of NewsHour Productions, in a news release. “We are committed to providing thoughtful coverage and analysis 365 days of the year; and with John at the helm of our PBS News Weekend, our audiences will continue to be well-served.”
Report: Radio's Reach Consistent Over Last 15 Years
Broadcast radio has 214 million listeners, a decrease of just 8% from 2008, and eMarketer reports that it's still a valuable advertising format. The study also predicts a 30% rise in ad spending for podcasts this year. Full story here.
I Grinch You Not!
PHOENIX — The Grinch came early for an Arizona driver who tried to pass off an inflatable figure of the Dr. Seuss character as a passenger. The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a state trooper last week noticed a car in a high-occupancy vehicle lane on Interstate 10 in Phoenix with a “Seusspicious-looking” green passenger. While the gag may have caused the officer’s heart to grow, it did not stop the driver from getting cited for being in the HOV lane during a restricted time. The agency, however, could not help but post a photo of the Grinch figure with the driver’s face blurred on its Twitter account. Officials say they appreciate the “festive flair” but that the driver’s action was still illegal. [AP - 12/14/22]
Different Strokes . . .
In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall! — Dave Barry
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