“A Baylor Christmas” Set for National Broadcast Premiere on Gray TV Stations Across the Country

Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-709-5959
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Gray Media Group and KWTX Television will present the nationwide debut of “A Baylor Christmas,” recorded in December 2023 from the performances of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra and combined choirs of the Baylor University School of Music. Throughout December, “A Baylor Christmas” will make its broadcast premiere on 113 Gray Media Group stations in 37 states that collectively reach 36% of U.S. television households.

"‘A Baylor Christmas’ is a cherished tradition that resonates with audiences far beyond our campus," said Kevin Sanders, D.M.A., dean of the Baylor School of Music. "We’re proud to share the exceptional talents of our students and faculty in the School of Music with viewers nationwide, celebrating the beauty of the Christmas season and embodying Baylor’s pursuit of excellence in every note."

Check local listings for broadcast dates/times. The program also will be available later this month for viewing on Baylor’s official YouTube channel.

The annual concert, which has heralded the arrival of Christmas at Baylor for a half century, features the talents of more than 350 Baylor students and faculty. KWTX Television recorded the full performance of “A Baylor Christmas,” featuring the brilliant voices of the Baylor Combined Choirs and the talented musicians in the Baylor Symphony Orchestra resounding throughout a sold-out Jones Concert Hall as they performed traditional favorites.

Celebrating Christmas in music and song

The hour-long broadcast of “A Baylor Christmas” opens with the Baylor Combined Choirs performing the traditional 17th century English carol “The First Nowell” arranged by Mack Wilberg, followed by “Personent Hodie,” a Lara Hoggard arrangement of the 13th century processional. The Baylor Combined Choirs are under the direction of Kristina MacMullen, D.M.A., director of choral activities and The Mary Gibbs Jones Chair in Music, and Will McLean, D.M.A., assistant professor of choral ensembles. Laura Smith is featured on organ.

The Baylor Women’s Choir, under the direction of Reginal Wright, M.M.Ed., lecturer of choral music ensembles, performs the African American spiritual “Listen to the Angels Shouting” by John Wesley Work, featuring soloists Amy Elliott, Jessical Kelly and Allie Sparks, followed by “Cradle Hymn” by Kim André Arnesen. The women’s choir is followed by the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya, M.M., which takes the stage for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker Suite.

The Baylor Men’s Choir is next with the Mexican carol “Convidando está la noche” by Juan Garcia de Cespedes, arranged by Eugene Rogers. The Men’s Choir is under the direction of C. Randall Bradley, D.M.A., The Ben H. Williams Professor of Church Music and director of the Church Music Program and The Dunn Center for Christian Music Studies. Soloists are Gavin Brophy, Henry Ingram, Stefan James, Logan Moore, Gabe Perez and Tyler Peterson, with Logan Campbell, Brandel Capps, Dylan Fink and Mark Phillips on guitar and Sam Anliker on percussion.

McLean then conducts “This Endris Night” by Sarah Quartel, performed by Bella Voce, followed by MacMullen directing the Baylor A Cappella Choir singing “Estampie Natalis” by Vaclav Nelhybel. Accompanied by the Baylor Symphony Orchestra Strings, featured soloists are Maximillian Macias, Katy Sanderford, April Hull and Brady Watson, with Marcus Alvarado, Reed Davidson and Ty Keller on percussion and Abigail Garner on piccolo.

Accompanied by Wright on piano along with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra Strings, baritone Stephen Newby, D.M.A., The Lev H. Prichard III Endowed Chair in the Study of Black Worship and professor of music, takes the stage for a breathtaking performance of “Some Children See Him” by Alfred Burt, arranged by David Shipps.

The Baylor Combined Choirs return under the direction of Harth-Bedoya for “O Holy Night” by Adophe Adams, arranged by Wilberg. “A Baylor Christmas” concludes with the Combined Choirs performing a resounding “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” arranged by Gary Fry and conducted by J. Eric Wilson D.M.A., professor of conducting and director of bands. Joel Tiotuico is featured on organ.

In addition to the hour-long presentation, KWTX Television has provided Gray Media Group with a 30-minute version of “A Baylor Christmas” that features performances of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Convidando está la noche,” “Listen to the Angels,” “Estampie Natalis” and “The Endris Night.”

KWTX Television records the performance of “A Baylor Christmas” every two years, with the broadcast premiere followed by an encore presentation the next Christmas season.

Broadcast Schedule

Check local listings for broadcast dates/airtimes.

Texas

Waco-Temple-Killeen

KWTX-TV: 11 p.m. Dec. 15; 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve; 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Christmas Day

CW Central Texas: 14:30 p.m. Dec. 15; 9:30 p.m. Christmas Eve; 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Christmas Day

Other Texas markets:

Amarillo, TX

KFDA-TV

Bryan/College Station, TX

KBTX-TV

Laredo, TX

KGNS-TV

Lubbock, TX

KCBD-TV

Odessa, TX

KOSA-TV

Sherman, TX

KXII-TV

Tyler/Longview, TX

KLTV-TV/KTRE-TV

National Broadcast Stations

Check local listings for broadcast dates/airtimes.

Alabama

Birmingham, AL

WBRC-TV

Dothan, AL

WTVY-TV

Huntsville, AL

WAFF-TV

Mobile, AL

WALA-TV

Montgomery, AL

WSFA-TV

Alaska

Anchorage, AK

KTUU-TV

Fairbanks, AK

KTVF-TV

Arizona

Phoenix, AZ

KPHO-TV

Tucson, AZ

KOLD-TV

Arkansas

Jonesboro, AR

KAIT-TV/KALT-TV

Colorado

Colorado Springs, CO

KKTV-TV

Grand Junction/Montrose, CO

KKCO-TV

Connecticut

Hartford, CT

WSFB-TV

Rocky Hill, CT

WSFB-TV

Florida

Gainesville, FL

WCJB-TV

Panama City, FL

WJHG-TV

Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg, FL

WWSB-TV

Tallahassee, FL

WCTV-TV

West Palm Beach, FL

WFLX-TV

Georgia

Albany, GA

WALB-TV

Atlanta, GA

WANF-TV

Augusta, GA

WRDW-TV

Columbus, GA

WTVM-TV

Savannah, GA

WTOC-TV

Idaho

Twin Falls, ID

KMVT-TV

Illinois

Peoria, IL

WEEK-TV

Quincy, IL

WGEM-TV

Rockford, IL

WIFR-TV

Indiana

Evansville, IN

WFIE-TV

Fort Wayne, IN

WPTA-TV

Iowa

Cedar Rapids, IA

KCRG-TV

Davenport, IA

KWQC-TV

Ottumwa/Kirksville, IA

KYOU-TV

Sioux City, IA

KTIV-TV

Kansas

Fairway, KS

KCTV-TV

Topeka, KS

WIBW-TV

Wichita, KS

KWCH-TV

Kentucky

Bowling Green, KY

WBKO-TV

Hazard/Lexington, KY

WYMT-TV

Lexington, KY

WKYT-TV

Louisville, KY

WAVE-TV

Louisiana

Alexandria, LA

KALB-TV

Baton Rouge, LA

WAFB-TV

Lake Charles, LA

KPLC-TV

Monroe, LA

KNOE-TV

New Orleans, LA

WVUE-TV/WNDU-TV

Shreveport, LA

KSLA-TV

Maine

Bangor, ME

WABI-TV

Presque Isle, ME

WAGM-TV

Massachusetts

Springfield, MA

WGGB-TV

Michigan

Flint, MI

WNEM-TV

Lansing, MI

WILX-TV

Marquette, MI

WLUC-TV

Minnesota

Duluth, MN

KBJR-TV

Mankato, MN

KEYC-TV

Rochester, MN

KTTC-TV

Mississippi

Biloxi, MS

WLOX-TV

Hattiesburg, MS

WDAM-TV

Jackson, MS

WLBT-TV

Meridian, MS

WTOK-TV

Missouri

Cape Girardeau, MO

KFVS-TV

Springfield, MO

KYTV-TV

St. Louis, MO

KMOV-TV

Nebraska

Hastings, NE

KNHL-TV

Lincoln/Hastings, NE

KSNB-TV

North Platte, NE

KOLN-TV/KNOP-TV

Omaha, NE

WOWT-TV

Nevada

Las Vegas, NV

KVVU-TV

Reno, NV

KOLO-TV

New York

Binghamton, NY

WBNG-TV

Watertown, NY

WWNY-TV

North Carolina

Charlotte, NC

WBTV-TV

Greenville, NC

WITN-TV

Wilmington, NC

WECT-TV

North Dakota

Bismarck, ND

KFYR-TV

Minot, ND

KMOT-TV

South Fargo, ND

KVLY-TV

Williston, ND

KUMV-TV

Ohio

Cincinnati, OH

WXIX-TV

Cleveland, OH

WOIO-TV

Toledo, OH

WTVG-TV

Oklahoma

Lawton, OK

KSWO-TV

Oregon

Beaverton, OR

KPTV-TV

South Carolina

Charleston, SC

WCSC-TV

Greenville, SC

WHNS-TV

Myrtle Beach, SC

WMBF-TV

South Dakota

Rapid City, SD

KEVN-TV/KOTA-TV

Sioux Falls, SD

KSFY-TV

Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

WVLT-TV

Memphis, TN

WMC-TV

Nashville, TN

WSMV-TV

Vermont

Burlington, VT

WCAX-TV

Virginia

Charlottesville, VA

WVIR-TV

Harrisonburg, VA

WHSV-TV

Richmond, VA

WWBT-TV

Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA

WDBJ-TV

West Virginia

Bluefield, WV

WVVA-TV

Clarksburg, WV

WDTV-TV

Huntington, WV

WSAZ-TV

Parkersburg, WV

WTAP-TV

Wisconsin

Eau Claire/La Crosse, WI

WEAU-TV

Green Bay, WI

WBAY-TV

Madison, WI

WMTV-TV

Wausau/Rhinelander, WI

WSAW-TV

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

 Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu. 

ABOUT THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

 Celebrating more than 100 years of musical excellence, the Baylor University School of Music provides transformational experiences that prepare students for careers in music. Students thrive in a Christian environment characterized by a nurturing resident faculty, an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence, a global perspective, dedication to service and devotion to faith. They investigate the rich musical and cultural heritage of the past, develop superior musical skills and knowledge in the present, and explore and create new modes of musical expression for the future. While preparing for future leadership roles, students join with School of Music faculty in enhancing the quality of community life, enriching the larger culture and making Baylor a place in which heart, mind and soul coalesce. Baylor’s School of Music is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Texas Association of Music Schools. Degree programs include bachelor’s and master’s degrees in performance, music education and academic majors, as well as doctoral degrees in church music. Degrees leading to the Bachelor of Music Education conform to certification requirements of the Texas Education Agency. Visit the School of Music website to learn more.