Poster Graphic with ornaments and text Christmas Favorites: The top carols as ranked by you.
Christmas Favorites: The top carols as ranked by you
MPR
Holiday

'YourClassical Christmas Favorites' as chosen by you

YourClassical Christmas Favorites 2025

Jack Frost is nipping at our ears, and that means it's time for YourClassical's Christmas Favorites. Six YourClassical hosts — Jake Armerding, John Birge, Tom Crann, Vernon Neal, Melissa Ousley and Lynne Warfel — each chose five of their favorite carols, and you voted on your favorites from those lists.

Now that your votes have been cast, we tallied the results and assembled this list of the top 10 Christmas Favorites — as chosen by you. Here are the results — and the music.

2025 YourClassical Christmas Favorites

No. 10:
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy | Pyotr Tchaikovsky (arr. D. Arkenstone) | David Arkenstone 

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Christmas Favorites - Jake Armerding: 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'

Bonus favorite:
The Christmas Song | Robert Wells and Mel Tormé | The Hampton String Quartet

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Christmas Favorites - Tom Crann: 'The Christmas Song'

No. 9:
O Come All Ye Faithful | John Francis Wade | Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, cond.

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Christmas Favorites - Lynne Warfel: 'O Come, All Ye Faithful'

No. 8:
What Sweeter Music | John Rutter | Cambridge Singers

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Christmas Favorites - John Birge: 'What Sweeter Music'

No. 7:
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming | Traditional (arr. R. Brooks and K. Turner) | American Horn Quartet

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Christmas Favorites - Jake Armerding: 'How a Rose E'er Blooming'

No. 6:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing | Felix Mendelssohn (arr. S. Cleobury) | Choir of King’s College, Cambridge

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Christmas Favorites - Tom Crann: 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'

No. 5:
Wexford Carol | Traditional | Bryn Terfel, baritone 

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Christmas Favorites - John Birge: 'Wexford Carol'

Bonus favorite:
Winter Wonderland | Felix Bernard (arr. W. Marsalis) | Wynton Marsalis, trumpet

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Christmas Favorites - Vernon Neal: 'Winter Wonderland'

No. 4:
In the Bleak Midwinter | Gustav Holst | Shawn Colvin 

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Christmas Favorites - John Birge: 'In the Bleak Midwinter'

No. 2 (tie):
Silent Night | Franz Gruber (arr. M. Sargent) | Dale Warland Singers 

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Christmas Favorites - Tom Crann: 'Silent Night'

No. 2 (tie):
Linus and Lucy | Vince Guaraldi Trio | Vince Guaraldi 

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Christmas Favorites - Jake Armerding: 'Linus and Lucy'

No: 1:
The Holly and the Ivy | Traditional (arr. P. Ostroushko)| Peter Ostroushko 

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Christmas Favorites - Tom Crann: 'The Holly And The Ivy'
musician Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko's interpretation of "The Holly and the Ivy" is the No. 1 selection in the 2025 YourClassical Christmas Favorites — as chosen by you.
Larry Marcus / Red House Records

Listen to this year’s selections:

Programming is supported by Alight.

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