WSOU

Winter 2019 Holiday Programming

Date: December 12, 2019

Seton Hall University’s WSOU 89.5 FM announces its programming line-up for the 2019 Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s holidays.  Programming highlights include an audio drama production of A Christmas Carol performed by Seton Hall students, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols recorded live at Seton Hall’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, A Franciscan Christmas with Brother Greg Cellini on Christmas Eve, and WSOU’s annual presentation of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. The station’s holiday programming also features the annual Top 89 Countdown, WSOU’s accounting of the top new music tracks of 2019, and a New Year’s Eve retrospective on the best metal songs of the 2010s.

wsou logo in the snow

WSOU’s complete line-up of holiday programming is as follows:

 

Now Through Dec. 24

For the holiday season WSOU is playing in regular rotation metal covers of Christmas classics. Selections include holidays songs performed by Korn, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, August Bruns Red, Alice Cooper, Psychostick, Underoath, Ramones, Amon Amarth, and others.

 

Sunday, Dec. 15

The Campus Buzz’s Best of the Decade Review (8 – 10 p.m.) – WSOU’s specialty show focused on alternative and indie music offers a retrospective on the best indie and alternative songs from the last ten years. Expect a few Christmas songs in the mix as well.

 

Saturday, Dec. 21

Personally Speaking Monsignor Jim Lisante (6 a.m.) – This week’s program focuses on

the true meaning of Christmas.

 

On Leadership (8 a.m.) – Host Darrell Gunter highlights a local charity that provides food and school supplies to needy communities.

 

Sunday, Dec. 22

American Catholic Radio (6 a.m.) – Author Father Tom Rickstater discusses the real meaning of Christmas.

 

Christopher Closeup: The Best of Christmas (6:30 a.m.) – Conversation highlights from past Christmas shows with guests such as Amy Grant and Mario Lanza.

 

For Unto Us: The Messiah Story (7:30 a.m.) – Martin Jarvis narrates the story of how George Frideric Handel’s “The Messiah” came to be. Featuring performances by Metropolitan Opera soloists Erin Morley, Tamara Mumford, Ben Bills and Tyler Simpson, and a rousing version of the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

 

Celtic Christmas (8 – 10 a.m.) – WSOU’s popular Celtic Heritage program presents both traditional and contemporary Irish music for Advent and Christmas.

 

The Kindship of Catholic and Jews (11 a.m.) – Reflections on the Vigil Mass of Christmas by Father Lawrence Frizzell, director of Seton Hall University’s Center for Jewish-Christian Studies.

 

A Polka Party Christmas (Noon – 2 p.m.) – WSOU’s weekly Polka Party show offers up a delightful and joyous mix of music for the Christmas season. The Polka Party has been airing on WSOU since 1949 and is the station’s longest-running program.

 

A Christmas Carol (8 p.m.) – Seton Hall University professor Gretchen Hall directs a cast of Seton Hall students in this radio adaptation of Charles Dickens classic tale “A Christmas Carol.” Deirdre Yates, Dean of College of Communication and the Arts, provides a special introduction of the program.

 

Seton Hall’s College of Communication and the Arts’ Theater Department presents My Friend Irma (9 p.m.) – Seton Hall students, under the direction of Professor Gretchen Hall, recreate the 1950 Christmas episode of the old-time radio comedy series My Friend Irma.

 

Hanukkah Gone Metal (9:30 p.m.) – WSOU kicks off the first night of Hanukkah with a presentation of Hanukkah Gone Metal by the band Gods of Fire. This program features classic songs like “Oh Hanukkah” and “Havenu Shalom Aleichem” along with contemporary songs such as “No Gelt, No Glory” and “The Quest for the Latke Oil.”

 

The WSOU Christmas Special (10 p.m. – midnight) – This favorite station tradition features two hours of traditional Christmas carols and songs by a variety of artists from the 1940s to the present. Hosted by Seton Hall/WSOU alumni Frank Scafidi, Ryan Stetz and Caroline Pinsky.

 

WSOU Christmas Eve Programming, Tuesday, Dec. 24

A Heavy Metal Christmas Eve (6 a.m. – 8 p.m.) – As the home of The Loudest Rock, WSOU presents heavy metal, punk, and hardcore covers of Christmas classics throughout the day.

A Franciscan Christmas (8 – 10 p.m.) – Brother Greg Cellini of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn and alumna Molly Meller host this annual Christmas Eve program, which has become a Seton Hall community favorite. This year’s theme is “Kinship,” with an exploration on the importance of togetherness in a world that is increasingly polarized. In addition, the program will also feature Franciscan reflections, religious and secular Christmas music, and the opportunity for listeners to call in.

 

Mass (10 p.m.- Midnight) – A live broadcast of the Christmas Eve Mass from Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange, N.J.

 

Seton Hall Christmas Message (Midnight) – Christmas greetings from Seton Hall University President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., followed by an hour of religious Christmas music.

 

Christmas Power Cuts (1 – 6 a.m.) – Blocks of Christmas carols covered by heavy metal bands.

 

WSOU Christmas Day Programming, Tuesday, Dec. 25

Christmas Oratorio (6 – 8:30 a.m.) – WSOU’s annual presentation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. This Christmas morning airing of Bach’s choral masterwork is a Seton Hall tradition, with the station offering a different performance each year. For 2019, WSOU will air a 2016 recording of the Christmas Oratorio by the Dunedin Consort under the direction of John Butt.

 

A Merry Little Christmas (8:30 a.m.) – Tony-winning actress, dancer, and singer Sutton Foster treats listeners to songs for the season, including “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” “Christmas Time is Here,” and “Silent Night.” Actor Hugh Bonneville reads the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke.

 

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (9 a.m.) – Biblical readings and carols in celebration of the season performed by the Seton Hall University Choir and Orchestra and recorded live this December inside the campus’ Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

 

Mass (10 a.m.) – Christmas Day Mass live from Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange, N.J., followed by the annual Christmas greeting from Seton Hall University President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D.

 

A Christmas Carol (11 a.m.) – Seton Hall University professor Gretchen Hall directs a cast of Seton Hall students in this radio adaptation of Charles Dickens classic tale “A Christmas Carol.” Deirdre Yates, Dean of College of Communication and the Arts, provides a special introduction.

 

Home For The Holidays (11:45 a.m.) – English tenor and actor Alfie Boe headlines this Christmas special featuring solo and full choral performances of Christmas music, including “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Sing Noel,” “Home for the Holidays,” and “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” among others.

 

A Merry Metal Christmas (12:30 – 8 p.m.) – A festive mix of music for hard rockers.

 

Friday, Dec. 27

The Top 89 Countdown (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) – WSOU counts down the Top 89 Heavy Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Post-Hardcore, and loud rock songs of 2019. Listeners will have the chance to win WSOU prize packs during the countdown. The Top 89 will be repeated on Saturday, Dec. 28 beginning at 10 a.m.

 

Sunday, Dec. 29

The Kindship of Catholic and Jews (11 a.m.) – Rabbi Asher Finkel, Professor Emeritus of Jewish-Christian Studies, and Father Lawrence Frizzell, director of Seton Hall’s Center for Jewish-Christian Studies, explore the meaning of Hanukkah and how its themes speak to Jews and Christians alike.

 

New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31

The Best Metal of the 2010s (4 p.m. – midnight) – As 2019 draws to a close and the 21st century’s third decade begins, WSOU’s offers up the best songs of the twenty-teens as selected by the station’s staff and alumni.

The Loudest New Year! (12 – 6 a.m.) – To ring in the New Year, WSOU’s DJs spin live the very loudest rock to entertain head-banging revelers all through the night until dawn.

 

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