Holiday

‘Shine: A Summer Solstice Celebration’ highlights composers and musicians who celebrate this glorious season and will inspire listeners to celebrate the longest day of the year. Listen now with host Melanie Renate.

'Dreams of the Fallen' recognizes and memorializes through music and poetry those who have protected our country — often at great sacrifice — from before its founding to the present. Listen now to this tribute to U.S. military heroes.

Join John Birge in this joyful hour of music for chorus and orchestra that captures the spirit of Easter and the rebirth of spring. ‘Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns’ features choral settings by siblings Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, showcasing their enormous talent and culminating with a festive ‘Hymn of Praise’ based on Psalms and other biblical texts.

The beloved holiday of Passover, which runs April 5 to 13, commemorates the Exodus of the Jewish people from enslavement to freedom. Join host Adam Fine for ‘Melodies of Freedom,’ a musical celebration of Passover that explores the power of music to bring people together. Listen now.

For the first time since 2015, the North Dakota State University Challey School of Music performed its annual holiday tradition ‘Messiah’ at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Minneapolis in late 2022. Listen now to that performance for Easter.

In Ireland, the instrument almost always missing from a traditional Irish music ‘session’ is the piano, but Irish music is increasingly championed and performed by classical pianists. Join Andrea Blain for “Irish Music and the Piano: From Shebeen to Stage,” an entertaining and ear-warming special filled with Irish folk and traditional tunes transcribed, arranged and composed for piano.

As we celebrate Presidents Day, the presidential anthem, ‘'Hail to the Chief,’ might come to mind. But, ironically, this little ditty associated with the U.S. leader has its roots in a Scottish poem and music by a British composer.

After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the world came together to pay tribute to his legacy and continue the fight for equal rights that still exists today. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Monday, please reflect on these six musical pieces that commemorate his life and work.

We have a variety of classical specials for the holiday season, from Christmas to New Year's Day. Listen to them any time that's convenient using this comprehensive listing.

This year celebrate the ending of 2022 and the welcoming of 2023 with two live-streamed performances by the Minnesota Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic.