There's no better way to welcome Christmas than with Welcome Christmas! It's the VocalEssence holiday concert from American Public Media. Philip Brunelle and VocalEssence welcome Christmas with music for the season new and old. For over three decades, VocalEssence has been revered in Minnesota and around the world as a premier producer of innovative choral music.

Welcome Christmas!, presented once again this year by host John Birge, has become a perennial holiday favorite. It features the Minneapolis-based ensemble, VocalEssence, recognized internationally as one of America's premier choral organizations. Philip Brunelle leads the 120-voice VocalEssence Chorus and the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers.

Listen to the program

Music:
Stephen Paulus: The Ship Carol
Scott Ethier: A Mother's Carol
Peter Hilliard: Christ's Nativity
Libby Larsen: Beautiful Star
James Pierpont: Jingle Bells
Traditional, arr. Leland Sateren: When Christmas Morn is Dawning
Richard Rodney Bennett: My Dancing Day
Robert Wetzler: Noel, my Jesus
Traditional: Ya viene el Niñito
Diego Luzuriaga: El Nino de los Andes: Selections
Conrad Susa: A Christmas Garland
Dominick Argento: Gloria