Press Release re CBC Radio 2 and CBC Radio Orchestra

A RADIO ORCHESTRA, AND RADIO 2 GETS WORSE

StandonGuardforCBC Coalition-Statement

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.

For more information, visit http://www.standonguardforcbc.ca
www.standonguardforcbc.ca or call 604.224.3889.