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Yuel Yawney on the Axing of CBCRO and demise of CBC Radio 2
By admin1 | August 1, 2008
A Changing Classical Landscape
The Axing of the CBC Orchestra and Demise of CBC Radio Two
By Yuel Yawney
[from Borealis String Quartet Spring 2008 Newsletter, April 2008]
As many of you have heard, the CBC has decided to cut the CBC Radio Orchestra from the Canadian musical landscape. For musicians, composers, and audiences alike, this is an assault on our cultural heritage. The CBC Radio Orchestra has had a 70-year history of fostering new talent in many genres and helping to strengthen the nation’s cultural fabric. However, the present CBC management has also made many other changes to our national broadcasting organization many of which have gone unnoticed. In addition to the shutdown of the CBC National Young Performers’ Competition and the CBC National Young Composers’ Competition in 2003, a fact I wasn’t aware of until very recently, this year they have also shutdown CBC Records [Ed’s note: classical music only - recording of other genres rumoured to continue] ironically on the heels of the recent Grammy award the Vancouver Symphony received with Canadian violinist James Ehnes. Also, a reduction of the presence of classical music on the CBC airwaves by as much as 60% will drastically change the face of CBC Radio Two. All these changes reflect a disregard and disinterest in promoting and sustaining the best of Canadian culture. Perhaps the failure of Radio 3 to become a national broadcast network of non-classical music in 2007 has led to this encroachment of the rich and diverse programming on Radio 2.
Since our early years, the Borealis String Quartet has been very fortunate to be supported by the CBC, which has played a significant role in our career. Many of our performances across the country from Vancouver to Halifax were recorded for broadcast. These broadcasts on the national airwaves were of invaluable assistance to the quartet providing us important exposure to audiences across Canada. Without this kind of publicity, it would be virtually impossible to reach our audiences in the way we have. The current direction of the CBC gives me great concern not only for the future of classical programming in Canada, but also whether the CBC will continue to play a role in promoting existing ensembles such as the Borealis and nurturing new talent in our country. The list of Canadian artists that in the past the CBC has assisted is something that they should be immensely proud of. As much of the nonclassical music that is being promoted recently can easily be heard on many broadcast networks in the [private] sector, it would seem that the CBC is unnecessarily competing against and promoting music that already has a strong voice in Canada. In order for performers and composers to continue providing the wonderful variety of musical culture that is distinctively Canadian, it is imperative that the CBC recognize and reverse the direction it has taken.
I’m not sure that the CBC is aware how much of an impact the CBC Radio Orchestra and Radio Two have in North America. Recently when we were performing in San Francisco and Los Angeles, many people were asking about the CBC Radio Orchestra and the drastic changes in classical programming on CBC Radio Two. I was proud but surprised that people should know and care as much as they did across the border for a Canadian organization such as the CBC. I sincerely hope that the CBC will reconsider and reinstate the CBC Radio Orchestra within the context of restored meaningful classical music programming. Their actions are only alienating the strong and supportive audience base for classical music across the country it is their role to serve.
Along with 300 other musicians and concerned members of the public, I attended a demonstration downtown at the CBC building a few weeks ago. Protests are happening across the country and I would encourage everyone to write letters and voice opposition to these changes. A great website to visit which has all the updated information is www.standonguardforcbc.ca. I would urge you to take a moment to support the CBC Radio Orchestra and voice your opposition to the direction CBC has taken.
Yuel Yawney
Topics: Articles About CBCRO, Articles about CBC |
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