All Classical Radio is bringing you a soundtrack for the season that is sure to warm your heart this winter. As we look forward to another year of sharing music, comfort, and joy over the airwaves, we invite you to join us for beloved musical traditions and festive special programs.
Tune in at 89.9 FM in Portland or worldwide via our live player for seasonal favorites and handcrafted playlists to keep your holidays merry and bright. It’s all made possible by your generous support, and we are truly grateful. Please consider donating today to keep the music playing.
Visit the All Classical Arts Blog to take a deep dive into the origins of some of the carols you will hear on the air this year.
YOUR SOUNDTRACK FOR THE SEASON
Festival of Carols
December 22nd – 25th
A treasured tradition for so many, All Classical Radio’s Festival of Carols returns with four days of cherished seasonal music from cultures around the world, curated to lift your spirit and warm your heart. Highlights include Christmastime classics, excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah, alongside new releases and all-time favorite carols.
The Festival of Carols also includes a live broadcast of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, UK on December 24th at 7:00 AM PT.
All Classical Radio’s Festival of Carols is generously sponsored by AniChe Cellars, Armac Construction, Rose Villa, and Terwilliger Plaza.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge
Wednesday, December 24th | 7:00 AM PT
Join us on the radio for A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcasting LIVE from King’s College, Cambridge in England. This program was first introduced to King’s College on Christmas Eve 1918 to offer solace to people who were distressed, exhausted, and bereaved at the end of the First World War. Though not invented at King’s College, it was introduced by then Dean, Eric Milner-White, who wrote his own intro to set the scene for the reading of the lessons and singing of the carols.
Learn more at kings.cam.ac.uk.
This live broadcast of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is part of All Classical Radio’s beloved Festival of Carols.
The Classical Countdown to 2026
Wednesday, December 31st
Tune in to All Classical Radio on December 31st beginning at 7:00 AM PT, to hear a celebratory playlist put together by you! Throughout the day, we will count down some of the highest voted selections of 2025, and broadcast the winning piece at midnight. It’s a perfect way to ring in the New Year, with your favorite music and friends on the radio.
All Classical Radio’s Classical Countdown is generously sponsored by Music Millennium.
Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert
Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 8:00 AM PT
Connecting communities through music locally and globally, All Classical Radio will kick off 2026 with a live broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert. The acclaimed orchestra will share lively and nostalgic music to usher in the New Year, under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna.
The program consists of music from the vast repertoire of the Strauss family and their contemporaries. Learn more at wienerphilharmoniker.at/en.
ICAN RADIO
The Cinnamon Bear
November 28th – January 6th
Daily at 12:00 PM & 6:00 PM PT
A Portland tradition since 1937, the six-week-long radio series tells the tale of Paddy O’Cinnamon (the Cinnamon Bear), as he counts down to Christmas. The Cinnamon Bear is narrated by Bud Hiestand, with songs composed by Don Honrath and conducted by Felix Mills, lyrics by Glanville Heisch, and vocals by the Paul Taylor Quartet.
Listen at icanradio.org.
The Cinnamon Bear on ICAN Radio is generously sponsored by Portland Spirit.
PAST & ON DEMAND
Holiday Happy Hour
Hosted by Warren Black & Christa Wessel
Warren and Christa brought us a special holiday edition of Friday Happy Hour, featuring new takes on festive tunes, a sneak peek of what’s ahead on All Classical for the holiday season, and more of your favorite classical music… with a merry twist!
Listen on demand until January 2, 2026.
Thursdays @ Three
Throughout December, Christa has featured festive live performances on T@T from Northwest Trombone Collective; Grant HS Royal Blues; pianist Myrna Setiawan sharing holiday arrangements by Dianne Davies; and more.
Listen on demand and see what’s coming up on T@T in the new year.
The Score
Host Edmund Stone’s excitement is the embodiment of the holiday spirit. Throughout the month, he’s been sharing music from films that explore Winter festivals, the many faces and iterations of Santa Claus, the tradition of gift giving, and more.
Hear these episodes on demand at thescore.org.
Hanukkah
December 14th – 22nd
All Classical Radio celebrated the Festival of Lights with traditional melodies, lively dances, and more shared by hosts throughout Hanukkah.
Listeners enjoyed traditional Hanukkah music, including I Have a Little Dreydle, Maor Tzur (Rock of Ages), Oy Chanukkah (Chassidic Melody for Hanukkah), and more. We also heard works by classical Jewish composers, including David Weintraub, Hugo Adler, Leo Low, plus, performances by Chicago A Cappella, violinist Itzhak Perlman, and many others.
First Day of Winter
Sunday, December 21st
All Classical Radio welcomed the season on the Winter Solstice with music evoking the shortest day of the year, and the promise of the return of the light.
On Sunday at 12:00 PM PT, we shared Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol performed by Skylark Vocal Ensemble, with Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski narrating.
Handel’s Messiah
Sunday, December 21st | 8:00 PM PT
Artistic Director Julian Perkins led Portland Baroque Orchestra and the Cappella Romana chorus in George Frideric Handel’s beloved oratorio.
Vocal soloists included Rebecca Myers, soprano; Sarah Coit mezzo-soprano; Dann Coakwell, tenor; and Christian Pursell, bass-baritone. PBO Artistic Director Julian Perkins, conducted.
THANK YOU
All Classical Radio’s 2025 holiday programming is made possible by your generous support and these local sponsors. Thank you to AniChe Cellars Winery and Tasting Room, Armac Construction, Rose Villa, Terwilliger Plaza, and Music Millennium for supporting the music.
