Stand On Guard For CBC » Press Releases

StandonGuardforCBC Coalition—Statement

Bill Bruneau — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:00:14 +0000

On November 16, 2008, Canadians say “good-bye” to their CBC Radio Orchestra. In its 70 years, the Orchestra gave thousands of broadcasts, commissioned over 100 Canadian composers, offered first-rate performances of the best music in the world, and introduced dozens of winners from the CBC Young Performers and Young Composers Competitions.

StandonGuardforCBC, a national Coalition of more than 25,000 citizens, has worked since March 27, 2008 to reverse the CBC decision to close the CBC Radio Orchestra, and to recover excellence in Radio 2 programming.

We have learned from Alain Trudel, conductor of the Radio Orchestra, that a new privately funded National Broadcast Orchestra (NBO) will succeed the CBC Radio Orchestra.

The Coalition understands why M. Trudel and the musicians of the CBC Radio Orchestra are taking this step. The CBC has forced them into it.

The NBO has the help of private and public bodies, and will need much more help in coming months. It will be a hard job to do what the Orchestra could do within the CBC. The Coalition notes that the NBO will maintain the mission of the CBC Radio Orchestra, and continue it through education, the internet, and broadcasting.

The Coalition regrets deeply that the CBC has chosen to end its commitment to the Orchestra, and with it, to give up a way of making Canadian culture.

The Coalition has decided to go on with the fight to bring back excellence in music programming on Radio 2. It will push for a CBC orchestra, publicly funded, and accessible to all Canadians.

Our mandate remains: Restore the CBC Radio Orchestra within a Revitalized CBC.

Join us! Your voice can make a difference.

Peter Milliken: “reduction of classical music on CBC2 is truly unfortunate”

Julia — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:13:57 +0000

Peter Milliken, (former) Liberal Speaker of the House, and Kingston, Ontario MP, has been lobbied steadily by his constituents who deplore the CBC’s changes to Radio 2. He is receptive and concerned about cultural issues, and his assistant assures me that he personally reads the documents we send him and responds in person.

Mr. Milliken did exactly that, even in the midst of the pressures of election time. In a letter dated Oct. 6, Mr. Milliken wrote: “Allow me to begin by expressing my agreement with your views on this issue…The reduction of classical music on CBC2 is truly unfortunate. I appreciate the effort involved in creating the document entitled “What MPs Can Do” and I sympathise with all those devoted to this endeavour.”

Mr. Milliken goes on to say that he has forwarded this document to CBC President Lacroix and Susan Mitton, Executive Director for English Radio. [Editor's note: this post now held by Denise Donlon.] While it was not exactly meant for them, it is spectacular that CBC management will receive this document from the Speaker, not us!! What an impact that is going to have, with its strongly implied sense of endorsement of the document, and disapproval for what is happening. In spite of the ‘arm’s length’ clause, we are showing MPs that they are not helpless in the face of CBC’s independence of action.

We are making a difference. At present, only our MPs can genuinely affect what has happened to CBC. They hold the purse strings for CBC’s budget. They can put pressure on the Heritage Minister and their Heritage Committee colleagues. Let’s empower them by making them aware of the issues and our rejection of cultural erosion at CBC.”

Cheers, Julia

Tell your candidates to Keep Our Media Canadian

admin1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:05:40 +0000

Dear Friend,

I am writing further to Stephen Harper’s outrageous comments about culture.

On September 23, Stephen Harper belittled concerns about cuts his government made to cultural programs just before the election was called, describing culture as a “niche issue for some.”

Now, Mr. Harper has opened the door to the sale of Canadian media and communications companies to foreign interests.

If you think it’s hard to find good Canadian programming now, just wait until our broadcasting, cable and telephone companies are owned by US companies!

That’s why I’m writing to urge you to take action by sending a message to the candidates in your riding:

www.KeepItCanadian.net/friends

We feel so strongly about this issue, we’ve bought newspaper ads in the Georgia Straight and other newspapers in battleground ridings across the country to urge voters to support the “Keep It Canadian” candidate. Check out the ads here .

Please ask the candidates in your riding if they disagree with Mr. Harper and if they will defend current laws that prevent foreign interests from taking control of Canadian media and communications companies:

www.KeepItCanadian.net/friends

Yours sincerely,

Ian Morrison

Ian Morrison
Spokesperson
FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting

P.S. There is only one week left in the election campaign – please spread the word about this campaign by forwarding this email to your friends, family members and work colleagues.

New Democrats Support the CBC

Joan Armstrong — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:00:27 +0000

From: “New Democrats”
To: “New Democrats”
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 11:27 AM
Subject: New Democrats support the CBC

Thank you for contacting Jack Layton and Canada’s New Democrats concerning
the recent changes to CBC Radio Two.

We heard from many Canadians like you who care about quality CBC
programming. We share the desire of the Canadian public to strengthen the
ability of CBC and Radio Canada to deliver superior programming along with
new internet-based media services.

New Democrats have long pushed to strengthen public broadcasting and provide
stable long-term funding for the CBC, Radio Canada and other public
broadcasters.

You may also be interested to know that New Democrats condemned the recent
Conservative funding cuts to arts and culture programs vital to Canadian
artists. These draconian cuts are a deliberate attack on the independence of
the Canadian arts industry and completely bypass the appropriate process of
consultation and public review. A copy of our recent announcement can be
found here: http://www.ndp.ca/page/6933

A Jack Layton led government will:

- Reform the CRTC to ensure that prime time television in French and in
English is written, directed, stars, and is about Canada and Canadians.
- Provide Radio-Canada and CBC with stable, secure and adequate funding.
- Protect and properly fund Telefilm and the Canadian Television Fund.
- Protect and properly fund the Canada Council.
- Introduce income-averaging for artists, modeled directly on long-standing
practice in the province of Quebec.
- Provide an annual federal tax exemption of $20,000 for income earned from
copyright and residuals income.
- Reverse Mr. Harper’s $45 million cutback to culture.

We want you to know that Canada’s New Democrats remain strong in our support
of arts and culture initiatives that help to promote Canada’s cultural
identity both at home and abroad. Feel free to pass along this email to
anyone who may be interested. All the best.

Sincerely,

Jack Layton’s New Democrats
Putting you and your family first.
Jack Layton et le NPD
Mettre vos priorités et celles de votre famille au premier plan.

Stand On Guard For CBC Coalition Urges Concert Presenters To Help Save Classical CBC Radio 2 And The CBC Radio Orchestra.

Bill Bruneau — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:08:22 +0000

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Stand On Guard for CBC Coalition offers a print-ready announcement for download on our web site http://standonguardforcbc.ca — for all concert presenters worried by the reduction and banalisation of classical music on CBC Radio 2. Our web site has been the primary information source for protest since announcement of the axing of the CBC Radio Orchestra on March 27, 2008.

Our web site

gives links to news articles and print and visual media,
provides tool-kits to help listeners and concert- goers to write letters of protest, organize rallies, sign petitions, and
provides space for the public to write their opinions on our web site and to read those of others.

Please visit the following link to see the print-ready “announcement” :

http://www.earsay.com/standonguardforcbc/you-can-take-action-toolkits/

Call for a Listening Drive!

admin1 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:59:52 +0000

The Stand On Guard for CBC Coalition encourages a public

Radio 2 “Listening Drive”

this coming week from September 2 to 7.

Some might think we’d like to boycott. On the contrary!

We want to be able to tell the country what we have learned from all that listening:

Just how well does the “new Radio 2″ display Canada’s musical and artistic power?
Does it show why Canada has been such a vigorous “player” in world music-making?
Does the new Radio 2 help us to see how we can build an even stronger and deeper sense of Canadian community (as the old Radios 1 and 2 have done for the past three-quarters of a century)?
Does the new programming do justice to and give a deeper understanding of the music being presented?

Join us in listening to the new beast that is Radio 2. Then let loose in public your informed outcry (unless a miracle happens, and you love it)!

If you really can’t stand it, listen all day Tuesday September 2, then turn it off all day September 3 (but we are not calling for a boycott) !

Political Action Committee.

CBC Radio Orchestra & Ben Heppner – UBC Centenary Gala announced

admin1 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:53:10 +0000

Co-Produced by the Chan Centre and the CBC Radio Orchestra
Ben Heppner, tenor – UBC Centenary Gala
Sunday September 28, 2008 at 3pm
Chan Shun Concert Hall, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
6265 Crescent Road, UBC

Vancouver, B.C. – In celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the University of British Columbia, highly acclaimed Canadian tenor and UBC alumnus Ben Heppner will perform in the UBC Centenary Gala, Sunday September 28th at 3:00pm. This concert features Heppner with the CBC Radio Orchestra under the baton of Alain Trudel, alongside the University Singers choir.

Repertoire for this notable gala event will include the CBC Radio Orchestra performing Beethoven’s Lenore Overture, as well as the orchestral works of Vancouver’s own Jean Coulthard. The orchestra will also accompany Ben Heppner for a collection of much-loved English song including I’ll Follow My Secret Heart (Sir Noel Coward), The Desert Song (Sigmund Romberg), and The World is Waiting for a Sunrise (Ernst Seitz).

In addition to Heppner’s contribution to the program, there will be a world première of a newly commissioned work by award-winning composer and head of the UBC composition faculty, Stephen Chatman. Chatman’s work for orchestra and choir entitled Earth Songs has been commissioned by UBC in celebration of the centenary and will highlight the talents of the CBC Radio Orchestra and the University Singers. About his piece, Chatman writes:

“Based on settings of diverse, multilingual texts pertaining to nature and earth, the six-movement work features an eclectic array of musical approaches, influences, and both western and Chinese instruments… Through its marriage of words and music, Earth Songs not only expresses a profound concern for the fragility of earth but also exudes a joy of nature, optimism, and hope for the future of our planet.”

This concert will be the second to last performance of the renowned CBC Radio Orchestra, an outstanding ensemble dedicated to showcasing Canadian performers and conductors, as well as performing and commissioning works by Canadian composers. The disbanding of the last radio orchestra in Canada was announced in March of this year, and has resulted in tremendous public outcry that continues to resound throughout the musical community.

Celebrated tenor Ben Heppner studied music at the University of British Columbia where he received his Bachelor of Music in 1979, and where he was presented with an honourary doctorate in 1997. Performing extensively, Heppner is known locally, nationally, and internationally for his beautiful voice, intelligent musicianship and sparkling dramatic sense. He has performed on the stages of the most prestigious concert halls with the world’s leading orchestras and is both a Grammy Award winner and a Juno Award recipient. In 2002, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

About the UBC Centenary
In the 100 years since the signing of The University Act, which established the University of British Columbia on March 7, 1908, UBC has been proud to educate many of the province’s doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, artists and others who have contributed to the growth of British Columbia. In this relatively short time, teaching excellence augmented by leading edge research has consistently placed UBC in the top 40 of the world’s best universities. The UBC Centenary Gala is one of the highlights of the centenary celebrations.

Co-Produced by the Chan Centre and the CBC Radio Orchestra
Ben Heppner, tenor – UBC Centenary Gala
Sunday September 28, 2008 at 3pm
Chan Shun Concert Hall, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
6265 Crescent Road, UBC
Tickets range in price from $47 to $61 plus service charges, and are available through Ticketmaster at 604.280.3311 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca
More Info: www.chancentre.com | 604.822.2697

CBCRO and Vancouver Chamber Choir: 33 years of Collaboration

admin1 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:16 +0000

CBC RADIO ORCHESTRA COLLABORATIONS

with the Vancouver Chamber choir

1975-2008

updated June 2008

98 performances of 83 programmes over 33 years

by Jon Washburn

83 Jun 08 BCF Willan Requiem/ Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs/ Serenade to Music
82 Mar 08 VCC Puccini Messa di Gloria/ Pergolesi Stabat Mater
81 Nov 07 VCC Bach Christmas Oratorio BWV 248
80 Sep 07 VCC Bach Der Geist hilft/ Handel Dixit Dominus/ Haydn Missa Brevis in F/
Mozart Flute Concerto in G Major, K 313

79 Sep 06 VCC Handel Four Coronation Anthems/ Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5

78 Apr 06 VCC Mozart Requiem/Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
77 Dec 05 VCC Handel Messiah (2)

76 Mar 05 VCC Bach B minor Mass

75 Apr 04 CBC Easter Sunrise Celebration (Brass)
74 Apr 04 VCC Bach St John Passion
73 Dec 03 VCC Schütz Magnificat/Monteverdi Ave maris stella/Schubert Magnificat/
Mozart Regina coeli/ Bruckner Three Ave Marias
Tavener Two Hymns to the Mother of God/ Liszt Inno a Maria Vergine

72 Apr 03 VCC Bach The Four Short Masses BWV 233-236
71 Dec 02 VCC Handel Messiah (2)
70 Nov 02 CBC Mozart Vesperae Solennes, K.339/Handel The King shall Rejoice

69 Mar 02 CBC Raminsh Missa Brevis (CD)
68 Mar 02 VCC Raminsh Missa Brevis/Brahms Alto Rhapsody/Beethoven Mass in C Maj
67 Dec 01 CBC Willan The Mystery of Bethlehem/Thompson et al. Carols from Quebec/
Henderson Westcoast Carols
66 Dec 01 VCC Monteverdi Christmas Vespers/Manfredini Concerto Grosso Op.3, No.12/
Bach Gloria in excelsis Deo BWV 191

65 Dec 00 VCC Telemann Machet die Tore weit/Vivaldi Gloria/Bach Magnificat

64 Apr 00 VCC Bach Christ lag in Todesbanden/Schütz Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz/
MacMillan Seven Last Words from the Cross
63 Dec 99 VCC Handel Messiah (3)

62 Apr 99 VCC Mozart Litany/Pärt Litany
61 Dec 98 VCC Bach Christmas Oratorio

60 Apr 98 VCC Bach Easter Oratorio/Handel Brockes Passion
59 Dec 97 VCC Bach Christmas Oratorio

58 Mar 97 VCC Schubert Stabat Mater/ Brahms Schicksalslied
57 Dec 96 VCC Handel Messiah (2)
56 Nov 96 VCC Mozart Vespers/Menotti The Unicorn

55 Mar 96 VCC Bach St John Passion
54 Nov 95 VCC Bach The Six Motets

53 Apr 95 VCC Mozart Requiem/Pärt Te Deum
52 Oct 94 VCC Handel Samson

51 Apr 94 VCC Fauré Requiem
50 Dec 93 VCC Handel Messiah (2)

49 Apr 93 VCC Bach Mass in B Minor
48 Dec 92 VCC Corrette Laudate Dominum/Bach Wachet Auf BWV 140
47 Sep 92 KEO Ruddell The World is as Sharp as a Knife

46 ??? 92 CBC Missa Brevis/von Weber Jubelmesse/Fauré Messe Basse (CD)
45 Apr 92 VCC Davies Mennonite Piano Concerto/Parker That Sturdy Vine
44 Apr 92 VNM Komorous Vermilion Dust
43 Nov 91 VCC Mozart Litaniae de Venerabili/Mozart Vesperae Solennes

42 ??? 91 CBC Songs of the Lights/Raminsh Songs of the Lights (CD)
41 May 91 VCC Raminsh Songs of the Lights/Ruddell Choral Suite frm “The World is…”
40 Mar 91 VCC Bach St Matthew Passion
39 Dec 90 VCC Handel Messiah (2)

38 Apr 90 VCC Mozart Mass in C minor
37 Oct 89 VCC Handel Roman Vespers

36 Apr 89 VCC Monteverdi Vespers
35 Oct 89 VCC Vivaldi Gloria II/Handel Utrecht Te Deum

34 ??? 88 CBC Simple Gifts/ Macdougall Three Songs of Love (CD)
33 Mar 88 VCC Brahms Requiem
32 Dec 87 VCC Handel Messiah (2)

31 Apr 87 VCC Handel Israel in Egypt
30 Oct 86 VCC Bach Singet dem Herrn/Purcell Rejoice in the Lord Alway
29 ??? 86 CBC BaroqueFest/Bach Singet dem Herrn
28 Sep 86 VCC Purcell Dido and Aeneas

27 Mar 86 VCC Fauré Requiem/Carissimi Historia di Jephte
26 Dec 85 VCC Monteverdi Christmas Vespers/Pergolesi Missa Romana
25 Oct 85 VCC Mozart Requiem/Mozart Piano Concerto in D Minor, K 466

24 Apr 85 VCC Schütz Musikalische Exequien/Handel Dixit Dominus
23 Mar 85 VCC Bach St John Passion
22 Dec 84 VCC Handel Messiah (2)
21 Oct 84 VCC Beethoven Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage/Brahms Alto Rhapsody

20 Apr 84 VCC Bach Mass in B Minor
19 Dec 83 VCC Telemann Machet die Tore weit/Vivaldi Magnificat

18 Dec 82 VCC Vivaldi Gloria/Pachelbel Magnificat
17 Oct 82 VCC Bach Wachet Auf, BWV 140/Mozart Requiem

16 Apr 82 VCC Bernstein Chichester Psalms/Duruflé Requiem/Lambert The Rio Grande
15 Dec 81 VCC Handel Messiah (2)

14 ??? 77 CBC Christmas Carols from Many Lands/Willcocks Five Carols (LP)
13 ??? 76 CBC Vancouver Chamber Choir/Handel Utrecht Jubilate (LP)
12 Apr 76 CBC CBC Orchestra tour concerts (3) Stravinsky, Haydn, Prokofiev
11 ??? ?? CBC James Kent Christmas Cantata (broadcast only)
10 75-78 COL Vancouver Community College Spring Festivals (4)

VCC CONCERTS WITH CBCRO AND OTHER CONDUCTORS

9 Aug 04 FV Haydn Harmoniemesse (Kaljuste)
8 Aug 03 FV Schubert Mass in Eb Major (Rilling)
7 May 98 VNM Macmillan Seven Last Words from the Cross (Underhill)
6 Oct 95 VCC Mozart Coronation Mass/Handel Coron. Anthems (Bernius)
5 Oct 83 CBC Handel Coronation Anthems (Bernardi)
4 Oct 83 VCC Handel Coronation Anthems (Bernardi)
3 Nov 80 VCC Charpentier Messe de Minuit de Noel/Purcell Behold I bring you (Gardiner)
2 May 80 VCC Haydn Lord Nelson Mass (Hillis)
1 May 80 VCC Handel Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (Gardiner)

CBC Radio increases its support for Canadian composers – CBC press release

kanei — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:06:03 +0000

Attention News Editors:

CBC Radio increases its support for Canadian composers

TORONTO, July 14 /CNW/ – CBC Radio is building on its legacy of
commissioning original works from some of Canada’s most talented
musicians and orchestras with today’s announcement of a $50,000
increase in its commissionsbudget, bringing 2008′s allocation up
to $170,000 in total.

“We are excited to be putting more money towards the creation of original
compositions from some of Canada’s most talented musicians. These funds will
allow us to work with artists and orchestras throughout the country in
creating original and engaging pieces of music for Canadian’s to enjoy,” said
Mark Steinmetz, Director of Music for CBC Radio.

“It’s crucial for us that the National Broadcaster not only reflect, but
contribute to, the cultural landscape of this country. By increasing our
available budget for commissions we will be giving even more Canadian
composers a voice and a venue to explore their craft.” Steinmetz also noted
that CBC Radio has almost doubled its budget for commissions over the last 5
years.

CBC Radio has been commissioning original works from Canadian composers
for almost 70 years.Since 1939 more than 1,000 original works of music
have been commissioned by the national broadcaster, including classical music,
light classical and 11 full-length musicals.

Original works commissioned by the CBC include: Patrick Carrabre’s Inuit
Games (composed for throat singers), Stan Rogers’ musical So Hard to Be So
Strong and the first Canadian Commission by the CBC entitled Transit Through
Fire by Healy Willan.

Interested composers can find more information about the commissioning
process as well as how to submit their ideas by visiting

http://www.cbc.ca/radiocommissions.

ABOUT CBC RADIO 2:

CBC Radio 2 is Canada’s national music network. The network’s mandate is
to bring together the musical diversity that makes up Canada and is the only
radio station in Canada that exceeds mandated Canadian content requirements
because we think they’re too LOW.

CBC radio 2 brings you live concerts every night of the week and makes
sure you can listen to those concerts any time you like using our concerts on
demand feature: www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod.

Author Yann Martel invites Stephen Harper to read the Kreuzer Sonata

admin1 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:12:22 +0000

Author Yann Martel has been challenging our Prime Minister to read great works of literature for some time now and documenting the process on his great web site. Recently he decided to suggest Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata, to which the Stand on Guard for CBC Coalition added Jane Coop and Andrew Dawes playing the music by Beethoven. Read our press release here.