Enjoy some favorite holiday songs in Hochstein’s holiday YouTube playlist, as selected by Hochstein faculty and staff. There are selections from jazz to classical to folk. Read more about the picks below and click on the playlist in the embedded YouTube video player below to listen to all the tracks in order (they will play one after the other). You can view the full playlist here. You can also jump ahead to a certain song by using the links below.
Happy Holidays!
Jeremy Stoner
Jingle Bells, performed by Rochester Tuba Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a_38VPJnQk
Melissa Gernon
The Little Drummer Boy, performed by Pentatonix
I love this song because it reminds me that simple gifts of love are the best gifts to give. I love this version from Pentatonix because their voices are so amazing how they can either sound like an instrument or sing vocals.
https://youtu.be/qJ_MGWio-vc?si=uNlI2ty_7xwJNgTH
Nancy Boone-Bahr
Astor Piazzolla’s Winter in Buenos Aires, performed by Mari Samuelsen
This is a favorite of mine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-q4FLTCzUI
Allison Maney
Hallelujah! A Soulful Celebration
We perform this every year at my university’s holiday concert and it always brings so much joy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGbXPvWR79o
Kathy Cornwell
“O Holy Night,” performed by Samara Joy and Antonio McLendon
Christmas songs are so special. My choice for this year is “O Holy Night” by Samara Joy and Antonio McLendon. My husband and I saw Samara Joy in concert at the Jazz Festival this past June and were so impressed and moved by her music.
https://youtu.be/CoEwU-35sng?si=TeUXXvlfWQcaMcTd
Cheryl Johnson
The Secret of Christmas, performed by Shirley Horn
I love the message. I love the meaningful piano accompaniment and the story telling vocals. I sang this song in the past in a Seattle co-produced concert of “A Tap Dance Christmas Carol" playing the role of Ebeneezia Scrooge when she finally realized the value of Christmas.
https://youtu.be/LcWnm6h-_Tc?si=l-JuE3mFrEba-0ru
Catharine Baek
“Skating” from A Charlie Brown Christmas, performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
It's a cozy instrumental tune, with really wonderful harmonies! It actually sounds like swirling snow and skating around a rink.
https://youtu.be/Kn4Y3sHyfsg?feature=shared
Dick Delaney
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, performed by Mambo Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4KFxr5sJWw
Roz Cassano
The 12 Days of Christmas, performed by Straight No Chaser
https://youtu.be/2Fe11OlMiz8
Janice Hanson
Leaping and Dancing, performed by Nowell Sing We Clear
One of the first CDs I pull out from my holiday collection each December is something by Nowell Sing We Clear, a group from Vermont who for 40 years presented seasonal concerts across New England. I was lucky enough to see them live in concert several times and enjoy their music, much of it from the English folk tradition.
https://youtu.be/ilsWId7JYfg?si=qQqaSRfrBK-OiLza
Bella Lau
Angels We Have Heard on High, performed by The Westerlies
https://youtu.be/FU67SVKyzKQ?si=Qkz4g3AIdkpJm4ej