On Christmas Eve, “A Local Touch – Music with a Virginia Connection” becomes a celebration of the season through the voices, traditions, and ensembles of the Commonwealth. Join Raymond Jones on Wednesday evening at 9:00 on WHRO-FM for a night filled with familiar carols, festive favorites, and the unmistakable warmth of local music-making.
The program opens with “Gabriel’s Message,” a traditional Basque carol arranged by David Willcocks, performed by Winchester Musica Viva under the direction of Kenneth Nafziger. A sense of storytelling follows with “A Cup of Christmas Tea” by Aldo Forte, narrated by host Raymond Jones and performed by the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band from Langley Air Force Base, conducted by Colonel Larry Lang.
From Williamsburg, the Williamsburg Madrigal Singers join organist Thomas Marshall for William Billings’s “Three Christmas Hymns,” bringing an early American voice to the celebration. Orchestral color comes next with “Sleigh Ride” by Frederick Delius, performed by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra under JoAnn Falletta.
The long tradition of caroling is honored with “Here We Come A-Wassailing” from the Virginia Choral Society, followed by “Good King Wenceslas” sung by the Virginia Chorale. Throughout the evening, many other beloved carols and seasonal favorites are heard from a wide range of Virginia-based ensembles, including The Virginia Girls’ Choir, the Virginia Handbell Consort, the Virginia Wesleyan University Chorus, the Virginia Consort, the Virginia Children’s Chorus, and many more.
The night concludes with a recent local performance of “Advent Lessons and Carols” from Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, recorded on November 30. This cherished service brings together scripture, choral music, and congregational tradition, offering a reflective and resonant close to Christmas Eve.
Tune in to WHRO-FM 90.3, or listen online, on Christmas Eve at 9 p.m., for a night of carols, community, and local voices, with “A Local Touch.”
