Echoes of Christmas and the St. Olaf Christmas Festival to air on WCVE Public Radio

Echoes of Christmas' Dale Warlandmore photos

The WCVE Public Radio holiday music season goes into full swing Monday, December 19th with two programs sure to get you in the Christmas mood. 

Echoes of Christmas, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

For over 30 years the Dale Warland Singers have provided magical performances to listeners across the country and have been acclaimed as America's premiere choir.  Echoes of Christmas is their signature holiday concert.  This year's program draws upon the archive of their live performances as Dale Warland and Brian Newhouse host this very special Christmas musical treat.

St. Olaf Christmas Festival, 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Celebrate this holiday season with a cherished tradition; the St. Olaf Christmas Festival now in is its 100th year. It’s a spiritual musical journey that takes us from the expectation of Advent, to that holiest of moments when Christ was born in a lowly stable, to the arrival twelve days later of the Three Kings from the East.

Over 500 student musicians from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota warm this cold and dark Minnesota December with their refined and glowing tone, at one moment hushed and reverent, and at another full of joy and awe at the Christmas blessing. You'll hear familiar carols, choral motets and get your chance to sing hymns with the some 3,000 audience members that attend this completely sold-out event. It's the St. Olaf Christmas Festival 2011; a concert The New York Times International Datebook called "one of the five significant global holiday events."

Check in with this blog throughout the holiday season for updates on more holiday specials including programs for Hanukkah, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa and the New Year.