Save classical music programming and the CBC orchestra
This is a special mailing just about the cutting of classical music on, and the radio orchestra of, our important national institution, the CBC.
Please act now in any of several ways you might be willing and see fit.
Time sensitive: Protest demonstration Friday, April 11, 9:00 am. Here in Vancouver there is are protest demonstrations on Friday, April 11, and also all across the country, at CBC installations. So head down to 775 Cambie St. at 9:00 and speak out for classical music and the CBC orchestra.
Get the overview on the programming changes at http://www.insidethecbc.com/r2sept#comments and on the orchestra disbanding at http://insidethecbc.com/cbc-radio-orchestra-to-disband-to-fund-works-from-other-canadian-groups
There are many ways you can voice your views and help create an uproar: Sign a petition http://savecbcorchestra.com/petition/ and also at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/cbcradio2
Write these folks:
CBC chief Hubert Lacroix: ht.lacroix@cbc.ca;Head of English Radio: jennifer_mcguire@cbc.caHead of English CBC: richard_stursberg@cbc.caHead of Music Programming: mark_steinmetz@cbc.caCBC/Radio Canada Corporate Communications: liaison@radio-canada.caHonourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister: pm@pm.gc.ca
And through their websites contactChair, BCB Board of Directors: http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/about/directorsAudience relations, English Services, CNC/Radio: http://www.cbc.ca/contact
(Here's a cut and paste for a short, passionate letter you might modify and make your own:
DO NOT DISBAND THE CBC ORCHESTRA: I am appalled by, and ask you to reverse, the recent decision to cut much classical programming and the CBC orchestra.
The CBC Orchestra is the last remaining radio orchestra in North America. Over the past 70 years, the group has been a touchstone for Canadians from coast to coast. It has served as a vehicle for composers to have their work heard across the country and around the world and created an archive of the musical heritage of Canada.
I implore you to restore the funding to save one of Canada's cultural icons and a salute to her magnificent musicians.)
And if you're into Facebook, join Save Classical Music at the CBC
and Save the CBC orchestra at http://www.p2pnet.net/story/15453
Since it all comes down to funding, here's a creative idea from: http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com/
Saturday, March 29, 2008 Earle Peach on Saving the CBC Radio Orchestra Vancouver musician and activist Earle Peach has a simple solution to save the CBC Radio Orchestra: get 20,000 people to each donate $50 to the CBC, thereby maintaining stable funding of $1 million for the orchestra and ensuring its survival. Here is his open letter:
Folks--since obviously the decision makers at the CBC don't know their asses from lambs' quarters, they need a little help in the decision-making department. Accordingly I'm mailing in a donation of $50 to the CBC, earmarked for the CBC Radio Orchestra. The orchestra's budget is a mere $1M; that's only 20,000 donations of $50. I'm positive that that many Canadians will be willing to put up $50. Hell, I'll throw in an extra $5 to convince the current CBC board of directors to stand up to the Canadian Taliban (er, sorry, the Conservatives), and resign en masse in protest over their obvious plans to gut our national broadcaster. Let's face it, this is a fight to the finish. The Conservatives are softening the CBC up for privatization after the next election. Don't let them!
I'm mailing my cheque to
Audience Relations250 Front Street WestP.O. Box 500, Station AToronto, Ontario M5W 1E6
And making it out to "CBC/Radio Canada" with a memorandum "for CBC Radio Orchestra". If you want you can also send them the first paragraph above...:
