WSOU Announces Special Programming for the Holidays

South Orange, N.J. – WSOU 89.5 FM, the student-run radio station of Seton Hall University, announces its programming line-up for the 2016 holiday season. Programming highlights include the annual WSOU Christmas Special (Dec. 18 10 p.m.), A Franciscan Christmas with Brother Greg Cellini(Dec. 24, 8 p.m.), Bach's Christmas Oratorio (Dec. 25, 6 a.m.) and A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Dec. 25, 9 a.m.), which was recorded live at Seton Hall's Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. The station's holiday programming also features the annual Top 89 Countdown, WSOU's accounting of the top new music tracks of 2016, beginning at noon on New Year's Eve day.

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 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" performed by Ronnie James Dio, "Carol of the Bells" by August Burns Red and "All I Want for Christmas is You" covered by My Chemical Romance, among many others.  

Sunday, Dec. 18

The WSOU Christmas Special (10 p.m. to midnight) – This annual WSOU holiday special features two hours of traditional Christmas carols and songs by a variety of artists from the 1940s to the present. This year's show includes an interview with singer-songwriter Suzy Bogguss, who will share some of her Christmas memories. Hosted by Seton Hall/WSOU alumni Frank Scafidi, Ryan Stetz and Caroline Pinsky.  

WSOU Christmas Eve Programming, Saturday, Dec. 24

Pirate News Desk (9 a.m.) – WSOU's weekly program of campus and South Orange news offers student reflections on the holidays, as well as a look back at the top Seton Hall stories of 2016.  

A Franciscan Christmas (8 - 10 p.m.) – Brother Greg Cellini of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn hosts this annual Christmas Eve program. As a challenging and turbulent year for many comes to a close, Brother Greg's special for Christmas 2016 offers a theme of "On Being."  The show will feature Franciscan reflections, religious and secular Christmas music and the opportunity for listeners to call in. 

Mass (10 p.m.- Midnight) – 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 A. Gabriel Esteban, 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, Sunday, Dec.25

The Christmas Oratorio (6 – 8:30 a.m.) – WSOU's annual presentation of Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio. This airing of Bach's choral masterwork has become a Seton Hall tradition, with the station offering a different performance each year. For 2016, WSOU presents a recording of the Christmas Oratorio by the Academy for Ancient Music Berlin, conducted by Rene Jacobs. 

The Kinship of Catholics and Jews (8:30 a.m.) – Father Lawrence Frizzell, director of Seton Hall University's Center for Jewish-Christian Studies, focuses on the shared values and faith of Jews and Catholics.  The Kinship of Catholics and Jews airs every Sunday morning on WSOU.  

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (9:00 a.m.) – Biblical readings and carols in celebration of the season, performed by the Seton Hall University choir and recorded inside the campus' Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. This performance will be followed by a holiday greeting from Seton Hall University President A. Gabriel Esteban.

The Spirit of Giving (10 a.m.) –A narrative and musical retelling of the story of King Wenceslas featuring Jane Seymour. 

Christmas Organ Pipes WSOU (10:30 a.m.) –Acclaimed organist Richard Elliott performs a dozen Christmas tunes on a massive pipe organ, including "Joy to the World," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and "Angels We Have Heard on High." 

Mass (11 a.m.) – Christmas Day Mass live from Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange, NJ, followed by the annual Christmas greeting from Seton Hall University President A. Gabriel Esteban.

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

New Year's Eve, Dec. 31

Thank God for Monday (8:30 a.m.) – The station's weekly program focused on career satisfaction presents a special conversation on the cusp of 2017. Host Brother Greg Cellini speaks with Adam Smiley Poswolsky, author of "The Quarter-Life Breakthrough," about how millennials can invent their own career paths and find meaningful work. An engaging show for those in their teens, twenties, and early thirties.

The Top 89 Countdown (noon – 8 p.m.) WSOU counts down the Top 89 Heavy Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Post-Hardcore and loud rock songs of 2016. Listeners will have the chance to win WSOU prize packs during the countdown. The Top 89 will be repeated on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 beginning at 10 a.m.

The Loudest New Year (8 p.m. - 6 a.m.) – To ring in the New Year, WSOU's DJs spin live the very loudest rock to entertain head-banging revelers through the night until dawn.

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