KMFA Classical 89.5, Austin's Home for the Holidays is presented by Terry McDaniel & Company Investment Counsel with additional support by I Live Here I Give Here, Waterloo Audiology, Austin INFINITY, Jackson Walker, and EASTside Magazine.
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KMFA'S 12 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS
YOUR TICKET TO THE HOLIDAYS STARTS HERE.
TWELVE DAYS. TWELVE UNFORGETTABLE AUSTIN ARTS EXPERIENCES.
Click the image above for more information about KMFA's 12 Days of Giveaways taking place December 13-24, presented by Austin INFINITY
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SHOP LOCAL WITH OUR "FAVORITE THINGS" HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
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HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
CELEBRATE WITH THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON ON KMFA!
*Please note that this list will continue to be updated and is subject to change. To receive up-to-date playlists in your inbox each morning, subscribe to our Daily Playlist at kmfa.org/signup or check back here for the latest information.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10
12:00 p.m. | Tchahikovsky's The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet is often heard in drips and drabs throughout the holiday season, but KMFA brings it to you in its entirety at noon on December 10, so you can enjoy all the music that isn’t part of the famous Nutcracker Suite. Dianne Donovan features this on Midday Oasis each year. Enjoy!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 (Chanukah Begins)
6:00 p.m. | Itzhak Perlman's Chanukah Radio Party
Itzhak Perlman invites you to his Chanukah Radio Party. Join the superstar violinist as he tells the story of the Jewish festival of lights and shares his favorite recordings for the holiday – some serious, some silly. This engaging one-hour special includes numbers from Itzhak Perlman’s radio-addicted childhood in Israel; evocative songs in Yiddish and Ladino; classical music that revolves around the Maccabee heroes of the story; and Chanukah gems by American folk singers. The master storyteller also regales you with jokes and memories, plus tales of three classic Chanukah symbols: the menorah, the latke, and, of course, the dreidel. A good time for the whole family, at Itzhak Perlman’s Chanukah Radio Party!
See Itzhak Perlman In Recital on March 22, 2026, at the Long Center!
Click the banner below to purchase tickets now.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15
7:00 p.m. | The Sound of Cinnamon
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16
7:00 p.m. | Carols, Customs, and Candlelight: A Christmas Celebration
The Celtic lands of Northwestern Europe have an especially rich musical heritage, and many Christmas songs and carols come from places like Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and other Celtic nations. Listen as host 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. Lots of well-known Christmas music comes from the Celtic tradition, and some very beautiful but lesser-known festive music.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17
7:00 p.m. | A Chanticleer Christmas
Grammy award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is known as the “orchestra of voices” for its unparalleled range and abilities. This holiday season, the group brings its brand-new Christmas program including original arrangements of well-known tunes drawn from Classical, Jazz, and Popular traditions. They fluently weave between diverse musical styles to create an evening of wonder and joy.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
7:00 p.m. | A Chanukah Celebration with Chicago a capella
Join Jonathan Miller, founding 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. Familiar tunes include "I Have a Little Dreidel" (both in its original Yiddish form and in a neo-funk Hebrew/English setting), a swing version of "S'vivon" by Steve Barnett, and a lively setting of the traditional melody for "Al-Hanissim" ("For the Miracles") by Elliot Levine. Heartfelt original compositions by American and British composers provide added depth of expression to celebrating the holiday. Such works include "Lo Yisa Goy," a plea for peace by Stacy Garrop; Bob Applebaum's stirring version of "Haneirot Halalu;" and movements from the majestic "Hallel Suite" by London-based Daniel Tunkel. All selections are performed by the virtuoso vocal ensemble Chicago a cappella. Jonathan Miller provides liturgical and cultural background as part of this unique look inside old and newer choral Chanukah traditions.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19
7:00 p.m. | In Winter's Glow
In anticipation of the Winter Solstice’s arrival on Sunday December 21, In Winter’s Glow is 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.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
4:00 p.m. | The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays with with Michael Philips
Renowned film critic Michael Phillips is your host for The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays, an hour-long special devoted to holiday and wintertime movie music. In addition to beloved standards (“White Christmas” from Holiday Inn and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Meet Me in St. Louis), Michael shares an eclectic mix of wintry film scores, ranging from “It Happened in Sun Valley” (from Sun Valley Serenade) to 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. Bundle up and enjoy The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays!
5:00 p.m. | A Holiday Concierto
7:00 p.m. | Chicago Symphony Orchestra Broadcast
Sir Georg Solti leads the CSO and Chorus in the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah, featuring Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Gjevang, Keith Lewis and Gwynne Howell. The broadcast also includes three works by Gabrieli, performed by the Chicago Symphony Brass, plus selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
10:00 a.m. | Early Music Now (Holiday Special)
11:00 a.m. | Classical Austin (Holiday Special)
12:00 p.m. | Classical Guitar Alive (Holiday Special)
1:00 p.m. | Bach's Christmas Oratorio
4:00 p.m. | Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McLaughlin
Winter holidays are celebrated around the world with wonderful music to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe. Celebrated educator, performer, conductor, composer and host of the WFMT Radio Network’s Exploring Music, Bill McGlaughlin gathers this spirited selection that starts in the 12th century with “Nova Stella,” medieval Italian Christmas music from Saint Francis of Assisi’s staging of the nativity; jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s classical composition “La Fiesta de la Posada,” evoking a Mexican Christmas celebration; and Vaughan Williams' “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” We will enjoy this time of year in Paris with music from Debussy, and then travel to Polynesia for a traditional hymn, “Anau Oia Ea,” and ending with an excerpt from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production. Turn on your radio, pour a cup of tea, cozy up to a warm fire, and enjoy the music!
7:00 p.m. | Christmas Revels from HPM
Christmas Revels performances have been described as entertaining collections of country, ritual and courtly dances, wassails, carols, songs and ballads, spirituals, hymns and anthems, storytelling, poetry and drama. They are made up of sacred and secular folk materials, plus some composed popular and "art" music, from traditional European, Middle Eastern, Asian and American celebrations of Advent, Chanukah, Las Posadas, Christmas, the Feast of Fools, New Year's, Twelfth Night, Epiphany/Old Christmas, and other end-of-the-year festivals, along with various cultures' hereditary observances of the Winter Solstice, some elements of which date back to pre-Christian times.
9:00 p.m. | Early Music Now (Holiday Special - Encore Presentation)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22
7:00 p.m. | Candles Burning Brightly (Final Night of Chanukah)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
7:00 p.m. | Welcome Christmas
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 (Christmas Eve)
9:00 a.m. | Lessons and Carols
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 (Christmas Day)
6:00 a.m. | Breakfast Blend Holiday Favorites with Emilio Alvarez
9:00 a.m. | ACMC's A Charlie Brown Christmas
Recorded live at the Paramount, Austin Chamber Music Center’s ever-popular, annual holiday performance of Vince Guraldi’s perennial favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas has become a holiday tradition at KMFA, airing at noon on the day after Thanksgiving. This favorite of young and young-at-heart is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit as a musical kickoff to the season!
10:00 a.m. | Midday Oasis Holiday Favorites with Dianne Donovan
12:00 p.m. | Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin (Encore Presentation)
Winter holidays are celebrated around the world with wonderful music to hear, regardless of which tradition you observe. Celebrated educator, performer, conductor, composer and host of the WFMT Radio Network’s Exploring Music, Bill McGlaughlin gathers this spirited selection that starts in the 12th century with “Nova Stella,” medieval Italian Christmas music from Saint Francis of Assisi’s staging of the nativity; jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s classical composition “La Fiesta de la Posada,” evoking a Mexican Christmas celebration; and Vaughan Williams' “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” We will enjoy this time of year in Paris with music from Debussy, and then travel to Polynesia for a traditional hymn, “Anau Oia Ea,” and ending with an excerpt from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors from the original television production. Turn on your radio, pour a cup of tea, cozy up to a warm fire, and enjoy the music!
1:00 p.m. | A Chanticleer Christmas (Encore Presentation)
Grammy award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is known as the “orchestra of voices” for its unparalleled range and abilities. This holiday season, the group brings its brand-new Christmas program including original arrangements of well-known tunes drawn from Classical, Jazz, and Popular traditions. They fluently weave between diverse musical styles to create an evening of wonder and joy.
2:00 p.m. | Midday Oasis Holiday Favorites with Dianne Donovan
3:00 p.m. | Gaudete! An Early Music Now Christmas
Sara Schneider, producer and host of Early Music Now, presents Gaudete! Early Music for the Christmas Season, with joyful and contemplative sounds of the season. In this uplifting and memorable holiday special, we’ll hear Byzantine chant by Kassiani, and selections from Missa Puer natus est nobis by Thomas Tallis, plus hymns and motets from Spain, Germany, and France. Our performers include The Cardinall’s Musick, Theatre of Voices, Cappella Romana, and Oltremontano.
4:00 p.m. | Rideshare Holiday Favorites with Sara Schneider
5:00 p.m. | Welcome Christmas
*Please note that this list will continue to be updatedand is subject to change. To receive up-to-date playlists in your inbox each morning, subscribe to our Daily Playlist at kmfa.org/signup or check back here for the latest information.
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