Nevada Public Radio Announces Special Holiday Programming, Begins 11/26

This holiday season, Nevada Public Radio is extending its seasons greetings across the airwaves with its special Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's programming on both its News 88.9 KNPR and Classical 89.7 KCNV stations.

Thanksgiving Day programming includes:

News 88.9 KNPR

- The Splendid Table's Turkey Confidential, Nov. 26 - 8-10 a.m.
Host Lynne Rossetto Kasper, the award-winning host of public radio's national food show the Splendid Table, will be fielding calls to aid listeners in the day's cooking conquests. Cook's IllustraTed Christopher Kimball and road food warriors Jane and Michael Stern as well as wine entrepreneur Joshua Wesson will be joining the program.

- Giving Thanks with John Birge, Nov. 26 - 10-11 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m.
Host John Birge reflects on the meaning of the holiday, playing music and recounting stories.

Classical 89.7 KCNV

- Harvest Home: Thanksgiving with the Dale Warland Singers, Nov. 26 - 6 to 7 p.m.
Beautifully arranged favorites, Shaker tunes and rousing folk songs conclude Thanksgiving festivities.

Hanukkah Programming includes:

News 88.9 KNPR

- Hannukah Lights 2009, Dec. 18 - 7-8 p.m. and Dec. 20 - 9-10 a.m.
Well into its second decade, Murray Howitz and Susan Stamberg host the program and explore Hanukkah traditions in original stories.

Christmas programming includes:

News 88.9 KNPR

- Jonathan Winters' A Christmas Carol, Dec. 24 -11 p.m.-Midnight and Dec. 25 -10-11 a.m.
Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of a special performing edition of Dickens' holiday classic, "A Christmas Carol," featuring Mimi Kennedy.

- Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites, Dec. 24 - 7-8 p.m. and Dec. 25 - 9-10 a.m.
Stories of seasons past are read by David Sedaris, Bailey White and John Henry Faulk are read touching on the meaning of Christmas, hosted by Lynn Neary.

Classical 89.7 KCNV

- A Festival of Lessons and Carols, Dec. 24 - 7-9 a.m. and Dec. 25 -12-2 p.m.
During this live two hour music and spoken-word broadcast hosted by Michael Baron, the 30-voice King's College Choir will perform its legendary Nine Lessons and Carols service of biblical readings and music directly from the chapel of Kings' College in Cambridge, England.

- Cantus: All is Calm, Dec. 24 - 7-8 p.m.
A moving musical drama, performed by Cantus, one of America's most accomplished male choirs, and Theater Latte Da, about the 1914 World War I Christmas truce scripted from soldiers' diary entries played to new arrangements of Christmas favorites.

- St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Dec. 24 - 8-10 p.m. and Dec. 25 - 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Featuring more than 500 student musicians who are members of five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra, the festival is one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations where hymns, carols, choral works and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity are played.

- Welcome Christmas, Dec. 25 - 8-10 a.m.
This lively musical program is a perennial broadcast favorite featuring the Minneapolis-based ensemble, VocalEssence.

- Chanticleer Christmas, Dec. 24 - 10-11 p.m.
One of America's finest male choruses celebrates the mystery and wonder of Christmas with an elegant blend of traditional and best-loved Christmas songs from Gregorian chant to gospel.

- Echoes of Christmas, Dec. 24 - 11 p.m. - Midnight
Hosted by Brian Newhouse, the Dale Warland Singers will be performing their signature holiday concert consisting of a the best and most moving choral Christmas classics.

- A Harpist's Christmas with Yolanda Kondonassis, Dec. 25 - 2-3 p.m.
America's premier harpist Yolanda Kondonassis celebrates the season with treasures of Christmas. Joshua Smith on flute and Cynthia Phelps on viola accompany and showcase her heavenly instrument in music arranged just for American Public Media listeners.

New Year's Eve Programming includes:

News 88.9 KNPR

- Capitol Steps/Politics Takes a Holiday: the Year in Review, Dec. 31 - 7-8 p.m. and Jan 1. - 12-1 p.m.
The satirical ensemble The Capitol Steps will poke non-partisan fun as they tackle the events of 2009 in a one-hour special.

For further information on holiday programming at Nevada Public Radio visit www.knpr.org.

Nevada Public Radio, a not-for-profit organization, is the state's premier non-commercial broadcaster of National Public Radio programming and includes News 88.9 KNPR, broadcasting national and regional news and discussion, Classical 89.7 KCNV, a network of rural translator and repeater signals: KTPH, Tonopah (91.7); KLNR, Panaca (91.7); KWPR, Lund/Ely (88.7) and KSGU, St. George (90.3), plus a statewide radio reading service for the visually impaired.

Nevada Public Radio produces 10 hours a week of original content which is also available on demand at knpr.org, including the national award-winning public affairs program KNPR's State of Nevada. Nevada Public Radio was incorporated in 1975 with its flagship station News 88.9 KNPR signing on the air in 1980. Since early 2008, Nevada Public Radio has provided digital (HD) programming with additional channels of Spanish language, contemporary eclectic music and news broadcasts. Nevada Public Radio also publishes Desert Companion^TM, a bi-monthly magazine. For further information, call 702.258.9895 or visit knpr.org.