Supporters
Support us by adding your name to this page! This page lists those who support our cause to restore the CBC Radio Orchestra within a revitalized CBC, and to bring intelligent and sensitive classical music programming back to prime-time listening hours. We estimate our core support as of November, 2008 to be well over 100,000 people. If one assumes the general membership of the various music organisations, institutions, associations, and ensembles listed below to be generally supportive, the number quickly tops 500,000.
We need your voice!
If you or your organization already support this cause, and you would like your name added to this page, please send an email to us, telling us:
- if you are an individual, your name, city and province, and, optionally, position or occupation & a one-line statement.
- if you are an organization, an email message from your organization authorizing or requesting that your name be added; and ensure that complete contact information is provided so we may verify the request.
If you would like to stay informed about progress on the issues, please subscribe to our Newsletter! Include your full name and city in your message.
Politicians and Public Bodies
The City of Vancouver
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
The New Democratic Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada
Individual politicians
The following politicians or candidates for office have stood in the House of Commons or spoken or written in support of our cause.
Municipal
Conservative
Liberal
- Hedy Fry (Liberal) in the House, April 2, 2008
- Don Bell (former Liberal MP, North Vancouver)
- Joyce Murray, Vancouver Quadra
- Bob Rae
New Democratic Party
- Jack Layton (NDP leader)
- Michael Byers – running for office in Vancouver Centre
- Bill Siksay (NDP MP, Burnaby-Douglas)
- Libby Davies, NDP, MP, Vancouver East
- Don Davies (NDP MP, Vancouver-Kingsway)
- Dawn Black (NDP MP, New Westminster-Coquitlam)
The following organizations and individuals have expressed their support for our cause by writing letters or articles for newspapers, or allowing for the distribution of our flyers, petitions, or letter-writing tables at their events.
Links go to their letters in support of our cause, or to the organization’s web site.
Associations
- CBC Pensioners’ Association
- Association of Canadian Choral Communities
- Friends of Canadian Broadcasting
- Members of the West Coast Amateur Musicians’ Society
- CAMMAC (Canadian Amateur Musicians Musiciens Amateurs du Canada)
- Registered Music Teachers Association of British Columbia
Business
Concert Presenters
- Music on Main
- Festival Vancouver
- Vancouver Symphony
- Vancouver Opera
- Vetta Chamber Music
- White Rock Concerts
- Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
- Friends of Music Alive, Port Hope, ON
Cultural Institutions
- La Scena Musicale/The Music Scene, Canada’s premiere classical music magazine
- Review Vancouver
- The Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Educational Institutions
- UBC School of Music
- Keith Kinder, Director, School of the Arts, McMaster University
- Dr. Gregory Irvine, Chair, Music Department, University of Prince Edward Island
Media, Journals, Online content
- Musoc.org “Music and Society,” online since June 2009, is a private, campaigning and educational not-for-profit voluntary organisation
Prominent Canadians
[You'll find "prominent musicians" near the top of the Musicians list below.]
- Yann Martel, author
- Christopher Gaze, Artistic Director, Bard on the Beach (Vancouver)
- Shelley Solmes, writer/broadcaster, former host, CBC Radio2, Hubbards, Novas Scotia
- Karen Wilson, former CBC producer
- Robert Sunter Ontario Arts Council Music Officer, 1968-1976 Head of Radio Music, CBC English Service, 1976-1982 Director of CBC Radio 1987-1990 Program Director, CBC Stereo (now Radio2), 1991-?
- Russ Germain, former CBC Radio News anchor
- Alex Waterhouse-Hayes, photographer
- Don Mowat, writer, broadcaster
- Howard Knopf, lawyer
Music Organizations
- The Canadian Opera Company
- American Federation of Musician
- Canadian Music Centre
- International Alliance for Women in Music
- Canadian League of Composers (CLC)
- Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians/l’Organisation des Musiciens d’Orchestres Symphoniques du Canada (OCSM/OMOSC)
- Vancouver New Music
- Canadian Music Centre, British Columbia Region
- BC Choral Federation
- Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra
Musical Groups
- 58 musiciens de l’Orchestra Métropolitain de Grand Montréal
- Vancouver Cantata Singers
- Phoenix Chamber Choir, Vancouver
- Amabilis Singers (New Westminster)
- Shaughnessy Heights United Church Sanctuary Choir
- Elektra Women’s Choir, Vancouver
- The Turning Point Ensemble, Vancouver
- Lyric Singers
- Vancouver Chamber Choir
- Halifax Camerata Singers
- Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, Vancouver
- EnChor, Vancouver
- Vancouver Piano Ensemble
- dulcisono women’s choir, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Musicians
- James Ehnes, violinist, JUNO Award-winner
- Ben Heppner, opera singer, CBC Talent Competition Grand Prize winner
- John Mann, lead singer, Spirit of the West
- Measha Brueggergosman, opera singer
- Alain Trudel, principal conductor, CBC Radio Orchestra
- Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor, Music director designate, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest; Directeur artistique, Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal; Principal guest conductor designate, London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Bramwell Tovey, conductor, Music Director, Vancouver Symphony
- Jonathan Darlington, conductor, Music Director, Vancouver Opera
- Gavin Bryars, composer (UK)
- Mario Bernardi, conductor emeritus, CBC Radio Orchestra
- Jon Washburn, conductor, Artistic Director, Vancouver Chamber Choir
- Jacques Lacombe, conductor, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor, L’Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières
- Jon Kimura-Parker, pianist, Grand Prize Winner, 1983 CBC Nat’l Radio Competition for Young Performers
- Jim Byrnes, blues singer, actor
- Anton Kuerti, pianist
- Chris Paul Harman, composer, Grand Prize winner, 1989 CBC Nat’l Radio Competition for Young Composers
- John Oliver, composer, Grand Prize winner, 1988 CBC Nat’l Radio Competition for Young Composers
- Michael Horwood, composer
- Jocelyn Morlock, composer
- George Zukerman, musician, O.C., O.B.C.
- Wilmer Fawcett, musician
- Jaimie Parker, winner, 1989 CBC Nat’l Radio Competition for Young Performers
- Peter McGillivray, baritone, CBC 2003 Young Performers Competition Winner
- Janet Danielson, composer
- Gene Ramsbottom, principal clarinet, CBCRO, producer, Out for Lunch Concert Series
- Sara Davis Buechner, pianist
- Ramona Luengen, composer, conductor
- Clark Ross, composer
- Marci Rabe, composer
- Christopher Butterfield, composer
- Robert Stevenson, composer, musician, Aritstic Director, Array Music
- Ursula Rempel, Senior Scholar, Faculty of Music, University of Manitoba
- Christian Ledroit, composer
- Steven Baric, composer
- David Dorrington, composer
- Charles Barber, conductor
- Anita Phillips, ARCT, Member College of Examiners Royal Conservatory of Toronto
- Jeremy Berkman, Co-Artistic Director of the Turning Point Ensemble
- Michael Vincent, composer
- Ivars Taurins, Director, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir; Principal Baroque Conductor, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra; Lecturer, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto
- Elaine Reid, second oboe in the CBC Orchestra
- Ann Kujundzic, singer
- Christi Meyers, Assistant Concertmaster, Victoria Symphony
- Jean Ashworth Bartle C.M., O.Ont. Conductor Laureate, Toronto Children’s Chorus
- Allison Sloan, violinist, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, violin teacher
- Richard Kurth, Professor and Director, UBC School of Musi
- Daniel Blackman – TSO violist, previous member CBC Vancouver, 1st VP OCSM
- Camille Watts, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
- Erin Marks, Oboe/Cor Anglais, Vancouver Opera Orchestra
- John Rudolph, pr. percussion of the TSO
- Theresa Rudolph, violist Canadian Opera Company, asst. pr. National Ballet Orchestra
- Csaba Koczo, violinist Tokai Quartet
- Kathleen Rudolph, pr. flute CBCRO, Glenn Gould School, U of Western Ontario
- Corkie Davis-retired bass player with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
- Erica Goodman, Harpist, daughter of the late Hyman Goodman, former concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
- William Bruneau, professor emeritus, University of British Columbia
- Robert Missen, performing arts administrator/musician
- Janet M Summers, Music Specialist, Vancouver Public School system; french horn players
- Sarah Jeffrey, Principal Oboe, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
- David Overgaard – Bassoonist and Educator
- Gloria Saarinen, concert pianist, performer, & life partner of the late Lister Sinclair
- Leslie Kinton, pianist, Piano Faculty, The Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Music.
- Brigid Coult, Director of Music, St Mary’s Kerrisdale; Conductor, Richmond Chorus; BC Choral Federation Project Manager
- Keith Hamel, composer
- Jennifer Butler, composer
- Donna Griblin – violist Vancouver Opera Orchestra, violin,viola teacher.
- Joel Katz, Chairman, Voice Faculty, Glenn Gould School, Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto
- Michael Matthews, composer
- Frank Morphy, Oboe, The Toronto Symphony
- Dr. Dennis M. Farrell, CLC, CMC, Dalhousie University Music Dept. Halifax (1968-2005)
- Catherine M. (Rempel) Quicke, B. Mus. DipCS: Singer and music teacher
- Ann La Plante, General Manager, Alliance For Canadian New Music Projects (also known as Contemporary Showcase).
- Andrew Brown, violist, Associate principal VSO, CBCRO, Trio Accord
- Sharman King, musician
- William Pura, composer
- Evelyn Creaser, violinist, CBC Radio Orchestra, Vanc. Opera Orchestra
- Doug Balfour, musician
- Steve Denroche, educator, musician
- Marianna Ussner, musician, music teacher
- Colin Miles, musician & listener
- Cathy Baerg, music teacher and performer
- Gordon Fitzell, composer
- Susan Marrier, musical director, dulcisono women’s choir, Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Gregory Macdonald (related to John Avison (1915-1983), founding conductor of CBCRO)
- Willi Zwozdesky, BC Choral Federation
- Jeff Joudrey, Artistic Director, Halifax Camerata Singers
- Diane Loomer, C.M.
- Win Rompf, Musical Director
- Chin Yen Lee
- Amanda Chan
- Susan Wong Lim
- Madeline Hope
- Grace Wood
- Nigel Hitchcock, Composer/Saxophonist, London UK
- Dr. John Sawyer, Associate Professor Emeritus, School of Music, University of B.C.
- Jaye Marsh Graham, Flutist, Celebration Duo, Toronto, Ontario
- Ailsa Zaenker, pianist and teacher, Vancouver, BC
- J. Marilyn Engle, Professor, Department of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Calgary
- Richard Haack, Principal and Owner of the Western Conservatory of Music in Langley B.C.
Music Lovers
- FACEBOOK GROUP: Save Classical Music at the CBC, 15,924 members on July 10, 2008
- FACEBOOK GROUP: Save the CBC Radio Orchestra, 7,878 member on July 10, 2008
- Jill Wade, History professor
- Paul B. Ohannesian, artist and architect
- Eric Ricker
- David Berner, journalist
- Janette Griffiths, writer (UK)
- Morley Walker, journalist
- Karl Raab, technical translator
- Miriam Mittermaier — Toronto — is a retired college English teacher (official title, professor)
- Arthur Mittermaier — Toronto — is a retired transportation/urban planning consultant
- Hans G. Schuetze, Professor, UBC Vanouver
- Heather Schuetze, High School Counsellor, Vancouver
- Neil Downey, Geologist, Vice-President, Exploration, Tripple Uranium, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Heather Downey, Office Manager, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Ian Downey, Student, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Sandra Bruneau, Education Consultant, Musician, Lover of Classical Music
- Joan Athey, President, Peaceworks Now Productions
- Jo Young, teacher
- James Tuttle
- Ann Snead
- Dr. Yoshi Okita
- Julia Bass
- David Hamilton
- Paul Gelpke, physician
- Mary Gelpke, nurse
- Marian Kahn, Montreal, Music Librarian
- Christine Offer
- Ruth Hibberson
- Dr. Lois Choksy, BSc, BS, DFA, Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary
- Jeanette Panagapka, BA, MA, retired teacher, Bed and Breakfast Owner/Operator
- Robert Murch, Sculptor,
- Ivan Marko
- Cynthia Fung-Sunter, CBC Radio Orchestra long-time supporter
- David G. Poole, Mathematics professor, Music lover
- Wendy and John Abbott
- Irene and Michael Jeffery
- Stephen Phillips, College instructor
- Stewart McIntyre
- Helen Clark
- Carolyn V. Stephens-Farrell
- Toni Bullock
- Erin Brown-John, student
- Jennifer Pike, Classical music lover
- Shirley Hibberson
- Margaret Logan – Project Manager, engineering firm; Officer of the Canadian Opera Volunteer Committee; Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Member
- Marie Prins, Donor & letter writer, avid fan
- Catherine Kerr
- Ita Kane-Wilson
- Greg Young, Department of Music, University of Calgary
- Dr. Jeremy Brown
- Rita Steblin, musicologist, Beethoven and Schubert scholar
- Germaine Warkentin, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Toronto
- Margo Akins, long time listener
- Barry Colso
- Phyllis Proppe, Nurse
- Alex & Marion Langfor
- Bob & Carole Anderson, Mississauga
- Michael Woolnough, Medical Specialist, Longtime-CBC Radio2 listener
- Jane Woolnough
- Pastor Robert Quicke, DipCS: Church minister and choir singer
- Sean Quicke, High School cellist and choir singer
- Heidi Quicke, High School choir and theatre student
- Eric Ball, college instructor
- Henk and Rita vanDooren
- Pamela Miller, Quebec
- Marge Patipatanakoon
- Rita Werner, music lover
- Russell Smith, journalist
- Tiko Kerr, painter
- Robert & Raymonde Kendrick
- David Vaisbord, filmmaker
- John R. Smith, M.A., M.L.S.
- James & Catherine Woodfield, (Vancouver)
- Maureen Lennon, teacher
- Dr.Palaniappan Andiappan, Professor, Management and Labour Studies, Odette School of Business, University of Windsor
- Phoenix F.
- Dominika Picard
- Giovanni Coletta
- Stan J. Backs, MSc, PChem, Chemist, metallurgist, wordsmith, choral singer, and long-time classical music lover.
- Barry Loker. Lunenburg, NS.
- Jane and Jack Rowberry, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
- Mary Lowery
- J H Stape (Vancouver)
- William Demopoulos, Philosophy Dept., Talbot College, Univ. Western Ontario
- Peter E. Brandon
- Ronald B. Hatch, Director, Ronsdale Press, Vancouver
- Robyn Gallimore, Red Bird Knits
- Wade Graham
- Gilles et Françoise Aerts, (anciens) enseignants en langues modernes, Vancouver
- Grace Kwak
- Helen McNab
- Jackie Tinson, Port Hope, ON
- Marina Pinto, PhD., visual artist
- Cynthia Fung-Sunter, Vancouver
- Maya Russell, New Westminster, BC
- Garry and Bly Kaye, Saltspring Island, B.C., Visual Artists
- Barbara M. Brown, North Vancouver
- Carolyn Newton, Vancouver
- Earle Newton, Vancouver
- Tina Dickey, visual artist and author, Salt Spring Island
- Elinor Gallagher, Quebec
- Donald Bell, Professor, Researcher and Performer, The University of Calgary
- Kelly Griffiths, Montreal
- Gen Day, Toronto
- Myrna Reid
- Martin Arlidge
- Clifford Hinton, Nanoose Bay, BC
- Grace Richard, Nanoose Bay, BC
- John Radford, Toronto
- Erin Coburn,Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary
- Stephen Cummings, Electrician, Concept Electric
- Diana & Philip Weinstein, Toronto
- Henry Meester, West Vancouver B.C.
- Marni Gent, Nova Scotia
- John B. Sprague, Salt Spring Island, B.C.
- Harry Williams Freeman, Salt Spring Island, BC
- Gordon Klassen, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Doug Wylie, Nanaimo, BC
- Stephen Beckmyer, student of political science at the University of Victoria
- F. Margaret Kirk, Vancouver
- Dr. Frederic J. Kirk, Vancouver
- Ian and Cathy Annand, architect and office manager
- Terry Gordon
- Gilberto Valencia, Delta, B.C.
- Lisa Egeland, computer technicians and visual artist, Roberts Creek, BC
- Evelyn Gent, longtime listener, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
- Doreen Dixon, longtime listener, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
- Hanne Lore “After thirty years of listening to CBC Radio 2 and supporting CBC Radio Orchestra I am very sad. And lonely.”
- Ralph Topp, London ON: “I have sent my concerns to CBC and politicians and CRTC and all have largerly been ignored.”
- Joan and Noel Armstrong, Vancouver: “We are music lovers and parents of a violinist in the CBC Radio Orchestra.”
- Robert Bailey, Montreal, Quebec: “I am an Officer in the Canadian Forces and enjoyed the culture I could access through CBC 2 in my isolated postings, no longer I fear.”
- G. Gutman, Vancouver, BC
- Dr. Lee Ann Martin, Physician, Surrey, BC
- Ed Wiens, Accountant, Surrey, BC
- Matthew Wiens, Violin Player, Age 11, Surrey, BC
- Clara Wiens, Violin Player, Age 9, Surrey, BC
- Gary Duke, Festival Board member, Hornby Island, B.C.
- Muriel St. John , Law Research Librarian & Sessional Lecturer, University of Manitoba: “I support classical music on CBC. I am presently suffering 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M. from not hearing my classical music each morning with Tom Allan. I work all day and this was the only time to hear classical music. Now it has been taken away.”
- Christa Kirste, Vancouver. ‘I am an active supporter of “Standonguardforcbc”. I am an ardent music lover.’
- John Buchanan, Comox BC
- Christine Buchanan, Comox BC
- Fredrich and Kiyoko Ulrich: “As devoted listeners to classical music, we abhor the cuts on CBC Radio 2.”
- John Kessling, Winnipeg, Pensioner, Musiclover
- Jeannie Mackay and Fred Young: “My husband and I have been very disturbed by the direction taken by the management of CBC Radio 2. Programing throughout the day is unacceptable in the present format. We are concerned as well for young people who are unable to experience the opportunity to listen to classical music when the radio is their only option due to financial constraints. We support all actions you may try to promote the return of quality programing to CBC Radio 2.
- Jessica LaMer, Edmonton Alberta: “Please bring back the classical to my weekdays!!! I’m lost with out it. Where can my young children listen to classical music on the radio? Nowhere. Bring back the symphonies, the quartets, the choirs, the cantatas and everything else.”
- Joyce and Lawrence Cormack, Winnipeg MB
- Ms. Irène Loire-Maillard: “CBC Radio 2. We miss it very much.”
- Dr. Roger Dutton, Pinawa, Manitoba : “CBC Radio 2. We miss it very much.”
- Tracy Raynolds: “I support your efforts to preserve the orchestra and maintain support for the CBC! Please continue your energetic efforts to keep [CBC's] special programming. We need your independence and most of all the beautiful music provided by the orchestra.
- Dieter Kirste, Vancouver, B.C. “Classical music is not yesterday’s art. It is timeless and it is part of our Canadian culture”
- Morfydd Kroecher, Fort St. John, B.C.: “I sorely miss Tom Allen’s classical music morning programme and also Eric Friesen’s.”
- Volker Kroecher, Fort St. John, B.C.: “I think that it is a disgrace that Eric Friesen’s classical music programme was eliminated by uncultured politicians.”
- Tharina Uys, Brandon, Manitoba
- Philma Scheepers, Brandon, Manitoba
- Lukas Scheepers, Brandon, Manitoba
- Geoff Woods, New Westminster, BC: Long-time listener
- Linda Kirste, Vancouver, BC
- Blair Stephenson, Vancouver, BC
- George Mariz, Bellingham, WA, USA: “While my wife and I are not Canadians, we have been faithful CBC listeners for more than three decades. We agree with many, many Canadians that the recent changes at Radio 2 mark a distinct decline in the quality of programming the network offers—-we scarcely listen any longer. We are particularly appalled by the changes in Tom Allen’s program, which formerly ranked as one of the very best on any radio programming to which we have listened regularly, which include the public broadcast networks in the US, Britain, France, and Italy. We do hope that the CBC reconsiders its programming, which has created a network that sound like virtually every other bland radio service.”
- Marni Gent & Mark Stewart, Music lovers, Lunenburg NS: “Both of us are VERY disappointed with “The New Two”… We are no longer proud of the CBC radio programs, nor do we leave our radios on from daybreak ’till bedtime. It is nothing more than just another blasé channel like all the rest. No substance, no identity…just noise.”
- Darlene Mercer, Individual, long-term listener to the ‘old’ Radio 2, and deeply saddened by the ‘new 2′, and it’s total lack of support now for classical music and musicians in Canada.
- Ioana and Larry Croteau, Edmonton, Alberta. Medical lab technologists and classical music lovers
- Ray and Elspeth Bradbury, artists & author, West Vancouver, B.C.
- Michael McNaught MAIBC MRAIC, Director of Design, CEI Architecture Planning Interiors
- Robert J. Mulvaney, Ontario
- Anne Andres, Librarian, Abbotsford, B.C.
- Anne Piternick, Vancouver, BC
- William Goebel Boulet, Dunrea, Manitoba, Canada: “I am appalled by the dumming down of CBC Radio Two and would like to see it return to its traditional role of classical (and jazz) music provider.”
- Alisa Snyder : Music Lover : Ketch Harbour, Nova Scotia
- Doctors Laurette and Lucien Floru, Toronto
- Marilyn Haugen – retired – age 64, Calgary, Alberta: “Have emailed CBC with my displeasure and received an unsatisfactory reply, of course.”
- R. Crawford Brewer, Riversview, NB: “concerned about Classical music programming (Radio2) and local news reporting (Radio1)”M
- Michael G. Collison, Minister, Surrey BC
- Lucien Loh, Retired immersion high school teacher, Winnipeg, Manitoba
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