Joys of the Season

“Joys of the Season” is a vibrant holiday showcase of theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. The 2025 special will premiere on Monday, December 8 at 6:00 PM on MTSU’s True Blue TV and YouTube channels. 

“Joys of the Season” will re-air on True Blue TV throughout the month of December, on NewsChannel 5+ in the Nashville market on Sundays at 6:30 p.m. beginning Dec. 14 through Jan. 4, and three special broadcasts on Nashville PBS.

The PBS premiere date is Friday, December 19, at 8:00 PM, which will also include the airing of the 2024 “Joys of the Season” concert at 8:30 PM. Nashville PBS will re-air the 2025 special on Sunday, December 21 at 6:30 PM and on Thursday, December 25 at 5:30 PM.

The 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions of “Joys of the Season” are also available for streaming via the PBS app and website. For more information on how to watch Nashville PBS programming, visit https://www.wnpt.org/watch/. 

The 2025 edition, hosted by Andrew Oppmann and Dr. Leah Tolbert Lyons, showcased the creativity and artistic excellence of MTSU students and faculty. Highlights included: 

• Musical Theatre – Professor Kristi Shamburger’s students performed the energetic Broadway classic “Turkey Lurkey Time” from “Promises, Promises” 
  
• Dance – Two delightful selections from The Nutcracker, “Candy Cane” and “Hot Chocolate,” directed by dance faculty Kim Holt 
  
• Art – A family craft segment creating homemade ornaments led by art professor Dr. Debrah Sickler-Voigt
  
• Music – Performances by Schola Cantorum (“O, Come All Ye Faithful”), directed by Dr. Will Chandler, and the MTSU Bassoon Ensemble (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”), led by Dr. Staci Spring. 

---

“Joys of the Season 2024” featured performances by:

• MTSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance performed “Twelve Days to Christmas,” from the musical “She Loves Me,” directed by associate professor and department chair Kristi Shamburger
  
• An MTSU Cello Ensemble, representing the School of Music’s Instrumental Performance Program, performed “Halls Upon the Merry Housetop,” arranged by assistant professor Bryan Hayslett.
  
• MTSU Department of Art and Design professor and coordinator of art education Debrah Sickler-Voigt showed how to make a one of a kind stamped flour clay ornament with a haiku. This is the first time the annual “Joys of the Season” program has had a holiday craft segment.
  
• MTSU Dance Program students performed “Waltz of the Flowers,” choreographed by dance lecturer Kim Holt. Originally from “The Nutcracker,” the piece is the final dance of the ballet and is where all the Sugar Plum Fairy’s sweets celebrate Clara and the prince.
  
• The MTSU Symphony Orchestra ended the program with a performance of “Sleigh Ride” under the direction of Carol Nies, associate music professor.