Encore Presentation of “A Baylor Christmas” to Air on TV Stations in 17 States

Concert featuring Combined Choirs and Baylor Symphony Orchestra celebrates Christmas in music and song

WACO, Texas (Dec. 17, 2019) – KWTX Television will broadcast an encore presentation of its Telly Award-winning, Emmy Award-nominated production of “A Baylor Christmas,” an hour-long program produced in 2018 from the performances of the Baylor University Symphony Orchestra and combined choirs of the Baylor School of Music.

The Christmas concert special will air on 27 Gray Television stations throughout Texas and 16 other states during the holidays. (See full broadcast schedule below. Check local listings to confirm dates/times.) The program also is available on Baylor’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/baylor.

The annual concert, which has heralded the arrival of Christmas at Baylor for nearly 50 years, features the talent of more than 450 Baylor students and faculty, including the 82-piece Baylor Symphony Orchestra, five choirs of the Baylor choral program and the Baylor Bronze Handbells, as well as local bagpipers Fiona Bond and Torrin Longnecker.

This marks the first encore presentation of the program, as KWTX Television and the Baylor School of Music move to an every-other-year broadcast. The 2019 concert will air in 2020, with an encore broadcast in 2021. Other universities with well-known Christmas concerts, such as St. Olaf, Belmont and Concordia, also produce their TV specials every two years.

During sold-out performances in 2018, KWTX Television captured the brilliant voices of the Baylor Combined Choirs who, along with the talented musicians in the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, resounded throughout Jones Concert Hall as they performed traditional favorites.

“A Baylor Christmas” features the ever-popular candlelight processional that proclaims the birth of Christ, with the combined choirs singing “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” arranged by Brett Stewart, and “Gloria (Movement 1)” by Mark Hayes, followed by the Baylor Women’s Choir performing “And Suddenly” by Michael Engelhardt and the Baylor Concert Choir singing the Spanish carol “Esta Noche (Be Joyful Tonight),” arranged by John Rutter.

The Baylor Symphony Orchestra takes the stage for Steven Amundson’s “On Christmas Day,” followed by the Baylor Men’s Choir performing the spiritual “Keep Your Lamps!,” arranged by André Thomas; Bella Voce singing the Michael Engelhardt arrangement of “Gaudete”; and the A Cappella Choir performing the Canadian carol “The Huron Carol,” arranged by Sarah Quartel.

After an audience carol “What Child is This?,” the beautifully decorated stage in Jones Concert Hall comes alive as the combined choirs join together for “See Amid the Winter’s Snow,” arranged by Dan Forrest, and conclude with “On Christmas Night/Sussex Carol,” arranged by Brett Stewart.

“This is truly a Christmas gift to our Baylor community, our state and to viewers throughout the country,” said Lynne Gackle, Ph.D., director of choral activities, professor of ensembles and The Mary Gibbs Jones Chair in the Baylor School of Music. “The music – filled with splendor, beauty and the joy and excitement of the Christmas season – is captured on the faces of our Baylor students as they share their talent in this concert. It is our prayer that the message of Christmastide, which was first announced to shepherds on a far-off hill in Bethlehem centuries ago, will again touch hearts and lighten spirits as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.”

Texas Broadcast Schedule

Waco-Temple-Killeen, Texas: KWTX-TV, KNCT-TV
4 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (KNCT-TV)
10:35 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (KWTX-TV)
7 a.m. and 3 p.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KWTX-TV)
7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KNCT-TV)

Bryan-College Station, Texas: KBTX-TV, NBTX-TV
4 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (NBTX-TV)
10:35 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (KBTX-TV)
7 a.m. and 3 p.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KBTX-TV)
7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (NBTX-TV)

Laredo, Texas: KGNS-TV, NGNS-TV
11 a.m. CT Dec. 22 (KGNS-TV)
11 a.m. CT Dec. 29 (NGNS-TV)

Sherman, Texas: KXII-TV, FXII-TV
5 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (FXII)
6 a.m. CT New Year’s Day, Jan. 1 (KXII)

Gray Television Stations

“A Baylor Christmas” also will air on the following Gray Television stations in 16 states. (Check local listings to confirm airtimes.)

Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska: KTUU-TV
6 a.m. and 6 p.m. AT Christmas Day, Dec. 25
5 a.m. AT New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

Georgia

Augusta, Georgia: WRDW-TV
Noon ET Dec. 28

Florida

Panama City, Florida: WJHG-TV
10 p.m. ET Christmas Eve, Dec. 24
6 and 11 a.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Sarasota, Florida: WWSB-TV
4 p.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (WWSB-TV OTT)
5 p.m. ET Dec. 29

Tallahassee, Florida: WCTV-TV
12:35 a.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

West Palm Beach, Florida: WFLX-TV
6 p.m. ET Dec. 21
8 a.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Idaho

Twin Falls, Idaho: KMVT-TV, KSVT-TV
5 a.m. MT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KMVT-TV)
7 a.m. MT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KSVT-TV)

Illinois

Rockford, Illinois: WIFR-TV
11:35 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24
6 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Iowa

Cedar Rapids, Iowa: KCRG-TV, NCRG-TV
7 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (NCRG-TV)
4 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (NCRG-TV)
5 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KCRG-TV)

Kansas

Topeka, Kansas: WIBW-TV
5 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Wichita/Hutchinson, Kansas: KSCW-TV
10:30 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Louisiana

Alexandria, Louisiana: KALB-TV, NALB-TV, OALB-TV
Noon CT Dec. 22 (OALB-TV)
11:35 p.m. CT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 (NALB-TV)
11 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KALB-TV)
5 a.m. CT New Year’s Day, Jan 1 (KALB-TV)

Monroe, Louisiana: KNOE-TV
5 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Michigan

Lansing, Michigan: WILX-TV
Noon ET Dec. 22
6 a.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Mississippi

Meridian, Mississippi: WTOK-TV
6 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Missouri

Springfield, Missouri: KYTV-TV, KYCW-LD
6 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KYTV-TV)
8 a.m. CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (KYCW-LD)

North Carolina

Greenville, North Carolina: WITN-TV
5 a.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio: WXIX-TV
2 p.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Virginia

Harrisonburg, Virginia: WHSV-TV
6 a.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Richmond, Virginia: WWBT-TV, WUPV-TV
5 p.m. ET Dec. 22 (WUPV-TV)
4 p.m. ET Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (WWBT-TV)

Wisconsin

Green Bay, Wisconsin: WBAY-TV
4 p.m. CT Dec. 22

Wausau, Wisconsin: WSAW-TV, WSAZ-TV, WZAW-TV
6 a.m. and noon CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (WSAW-TV)
Noon CT Christmas Day, Dec. 25 (WSAZ-TV)
Noon CT Dec. 28 (WZAW-TV)

Wyoming

Casper, Wyoming: KCWY-TV
10 p.m. MT Christmas Eve, Dec. 24
5 p.m. MT Christmas Day, Dec. 25

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 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 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

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 www.baylor.edu/music to learn more.