Esprit presents world premieres by Andrew Staniland and Bruce Mather March 26th

Brand New and Pre-Loved features world premieres by Andrew Staniland and Bruce Mather

On Thursday, March 26, 2009, Esprit Orchestra presents Brand New and Pre-Loved, a concert featuring the world premiere of Andrew Staniland���s Big Bang! commissioned for Esprit by CBC Radio Music, the world premiere of Hommage �� John Hawkins by Bruce Mather, the Canadian premiere of La Belle Chocolati��re by Dutch composer Mayke Nas, and Omar Daniel���s Trope, which was commissioned and premiered by Esprit in 2000.

Conducted by Alex Pauk, Esprit���s founding music director, the concert features the extraordinary Taiwanese-Canadian percussionist Aiyun Huang in her debut with Esprit Orchestra. An artist who challenges the boundaries of percussion and theatre, Ms. Huang is a founding member of Toca Loca and has performed with distinguished artists including Nexus, Trio le Cercle, Steven Schick, Steve Drury, Rivka Golani, George Russell and others in Canada, the United States, Taiwan, France, The Netherlands and Mexico. Ms. Huang is devoted to the creation of new works for percussion and has commissioned works from numerous composers including Canadians Gary Kulesha, Linda Bouchard, David Jaeger, Inouk Demers, Heather Schmidt, Chris Paul Harman and Alice Ho. Ms. Huang is a graduate of the University of Toronto and currently serves as Chair of Percussion at McGill University���s Schulich School of Music.

Big Bang!, Andrew Staniland���s concerto for percussion and orchestra, celebrates the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and offers listeners the musical equivalent of the incredible density, heat, and exponential expansion of the first moments of the Universe. Staniland is a rapidly becoming one of Canada���s most in demand composers with a host of awards to his credit including top prizes in the SOCAN young composers competition, and the 2004 Karen Keiser Prize in Canadian Music. He is currently Affiliate Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As finalist in the 2009 CBC Evolution Composers Competition, Staniland will be sequestered in Banff but he will participate in Esprit rehearsals and experience the premiere of Big Bang! via satellite.

Bruce Mather is one of Quebec���s preeminent composers and a talented pianist and teacher. His Hommage �� John Hawkins is an elegant and refined tribute to an important figure in the history of classical music in Canada, the late composer, pianist and educator John Hawkins.

La Belle Chocolati��re is a jaunty work by Dutch composer Mayke Nas, named after the famous Droste cocoa tin with the image of a handsome nurse on it holding a tin of cacao powder featuring the same image of a nurse. The repetitive nature of this picture within a picture is referred to as the Droste effect and Mayke Nas applies this effect in her musical work.

With a flurry of awards and honours to his credit, Canadian composer Omar Daniel has created solo, chamber and orchestral works which have been performed extensively around the world. In Trope, Daniel borrows from a traditional medieval chant form, incorporates fragments from some of his earlier pieces, then interpolates, layers, magnifies and embellishes old and new material to create musical excitement.

Concert and Ticket Details

Brand New and Pre-Loved takes place on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 8 p.m. at the Jane Mallett Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front Street East). A pre-concert talk begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets to Brand New and Pre-Loved are $15 for students, $24 for seniors and $32 for adults. Group rates (8+ people) are $25. For tickets contact the St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at 416-366-7723 or www.stlc.com .

About Esprit Orchestra

Esprit Orchestra is Canada���s only orchestra devoted exclusively to performing new orchestral music and developing a legacy of Canadian orchestral music. Founded by composer/conductor Alex Pauk in 1983, Esprit Orchestra is comprised of a core of 45 dedicated musicians with the special skills required to perform contemporary orchestral music. Esprit commissions and premieres new works each season and ensures continued public access to these works through encore performances, radio broadcasts, compact disc and film recordings, and national and international tours. For more information visit www.espritorchestra.com.

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.

Courtney Wing with 10-piece Opera Group Liederwolfe

Theatre Ste Catherine is pleased to announce our kick off event to the summer season! Keep posted for more upcoming music events!

COURTNEY WING

Following two weeks of events ranging from playing to a packed house for their
debut Montreal performance at Sala Rossa, performing a CBC live recording that
will soon be broadcast nationally on a new series called CBC's 'Live at
Breakglass', to returning from a triumphant NXNE showcase where they not only
played to a packed audience, but graced the cover of NOW Magazine and were
granted artist feature articles in both NOW and the Montreal Gazette, Courtney
Wing with band and 10-piece opera group Liederwolfe will be taking the stage
for two back to back performances at Theatre Ste Catherine on Friday, June
27th and Saturday, June 28th at 9pm - Tix 10$.

www.courtneywing.com
www.myspace.com/courtneywing
www.liederwolfe.com

Canadians Rally to Save Their CBC Radio 2!

May 14, 2008, Toronto, ON - Canadians of all ages are coming together on Saturday May 24 to save their CBC Radio 2. The Toronto Committee of Stand on Guard for CBC Radio, a nationwide coalition protesting the impending evisceration of our nation���s public broadcaster, is meeting at 1 pm in Simcoe Park, adjacent to the CBC Broadcast Centre in downtown Toronto. Similar demonstrations will take place in Vancouver and Calgary.

CBC Radio, throughout its existence, has acted as a partner to the classical music community through nurturing, developing and broadcasting emerging and established talent throughout this country and abroad. This is how classical music artists have been able to establish their profile and to distribute their music. Suddenly without serious and meaningful consultation (aside from an extremely limited stakeholder study) CBC management has pulled the plug on this well-established partnership. Sadly, no mutual and collective solution-based discussion of how the classical music community could continue successfully in a partnership with CBC Radio took place.

The new CBC Radio 2 will no longer provide quality classical programming during morning or evening prime time. The new CBC Radio 2 plans to eliminate vital longstanding initiatives, including the Young Performers��� and Young Composers��� Competitions, and the CBC Radio Orchestra. Many of the service���s most important and popular programmes are being cancelled. Money for commissioning and performance of new works is being severely curtailed. CBC Records will cease to produce classical recordings.

CBC is aspiring to target its new Radio 2 to the 35 to 49 year old demographic and has made an assumption that classical programming cannot be geared to this age group. Instead of creating innovative classical programming that is appropriate for this age group, CBC has decided to reduce classical music programming from 120 to 25 hours per week. Canadians of all ages will be affected by this decision.

With the assumption that classical music programming cannot be geared to working Canadians driving to and from their work place, CBC has cancelled classical programming from 7 am to 10 am and during the afternoon rush hour. Many working Canadians will no longer have weekday access to classical programming.

With the assumption that classical music programming cannot be geared to parents and children driving to and from school, CBC has scheduled classical music when Canada���s children and youth are at school. CBC Radio���s classical programming, broadcasts of live Canadian orchestras, ensembles and soloists, and broadcasts of original Canadian classical compositions will no longer be regularly heard by an entire generation of listeners.

Many Canadian commercial broadcasters play a wide variety of genres. However, there currently is no other radio broadcaster dedicated to reaching all regions of Canada to champion the music and originality of Canada���s contemporary classical composers. There is no other broadcaster that reaches all regions of Canada that champions classical music and the music-making of Canada���s orchestras and classical musicians. This is the unique function of our national public broadcaster ��� to bring music not played on other commercial stations to people in all regions of Canada.

The purpose of a publicly funded broadcaster is to enlighten, educate and inspire.

Its purpose must be different than a commercial broadcaster. CBC Radio 2 has the opportunity to be fuelled by the greatest accomplishments civilization has and is producing, and to differentiate itself from its commercial counterparts. It is not an appropriate paradigm for a public broadcaster to be almost singularly focused on ratings and specific audience demographics.

CBC, with its plans for the new CBC Radio 2, will be negligent in the fulfillment of its mandate as a public broadcaster.

Composers, conductors, singers, instrumentalists, arts administrators, colleagues from other artistic disciplines and concerned citizens of every description will convene at the Broadcast Centre on May 24 in a concerted effort to defend and protect our national legacy.

Come and join us to help save our CBC Radio 2!

What: Save Our CBC Radio 2 Rally

When: Saturday, May 24 ��� 1:00pm

Where: Simcoe Park, Toronto (adjacent to the CBC Broadcast Centre)

For more information view our website, www.standonguardforcbcradio.ca.

---

TIME	SPEAKER
MUSIC: Brass Fanfares
1:00	*Walter Pitman
	*Alain Trudel
	*Jean Ashworth Bartle
	Michael Saunders
	Wayne Strongman
	Chan Ka Nin
MUSIC: Bach Chorale
1:30	*Victor Feldbrill
	Albert Greer
	Chris Thornborrow
	*William Littler
	Larry Beckwith
	*Lawrence Cherney
	*RH Thomson
MUSIC: Ode to Joy
2:00	*Mario Bernardi
	* James Somerville
	Eugene Astapov
	*Carl Morey
	Lydia Adams
	Ruth Watson Henderson
MUSIC: TBA
2:30	Francine Shutzman (Kathleen)
	*Dr. Richard Wells (Olena)
	*Jamie Parker (Lydia)
	Ezra Schabas (Jessie)
	*John Oliver (Ivars)
	*Catherine Robbin (Ivars)
MUSIC: Missen���s Round
3:00	*James Rolfe (Neil Gardiner)
	Mary Willan Mason (Olena)
	Robert Anderson (Olena)
	Zimfira Poloz (Lydia)
	*Ivars Taurins
	*Rosario Marchese (Ivars)
MUSIC:Hallelujah Chorus
3:30	Theresa Rudolph Koczo (Kathleen)
	Glen James (Robert)
	Heidi Mackenzie (Robert)
	*Sam Bulte (Ann La Plante)
	*Russell Smith (Kathleen)
MUSIC: O Canada

Alain Trudel remporte le prix Heinz Unger

Communiqu�� Pour diffusion imm��diate

Alain Trudel remporte le prix Heinz Unger

Toronto, le 9 mai 2008 �� Alain Trudel vient de recevoir le prix Heinz Unger.

FAITS

�� Alain Trudel est chef titulaire et directeur musical de l'Orchestre symphonique de Laval, chef titulaire du CBC Radio Orchestra et chef du Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

�� Ce prix a comme objectif d'encourager et de mettre en valeur un chef d'orchestre canadien professionnel en d��but ou en milieu de carri��re. C'est le seul prix canadien pour les chefs d'orchestre.

�� Ce prix national d'une valeur de 9 000 $, attribu�� tous les deux ans, est administr�� par le CAO.

CITATIONS

Dans sa d��cision unanime, le jury du prix Heinz Unger a salu�� la vision artistique d'Alain Trudel et son engagement manifeste �� l'endroit de la vie et de la musique orchestrale au Canada. Comme en t��moignent ses relations avec le milieu dans lequel ��voluent les chefs d'orchestre, ses activit��s de rayonnement et son incroyable capacit�� de toucher l'auditoire, Alain Trudel fait ��uvre exemplaire. Il collabore dans le pays entier �� des initiatives artistiques uniques en leur genre, notamment des programmes ��ducatifs qui ont su int��resser les jeunes. Le jury estime que Trudel ne manquera pas de devenir une figure de proue du milieu de la musique orchestrale canadienne.

�� Je suis profond��ment honor�� de recevoir le prix Heinz Unger, a d��clar�� Alain Trudel. En tant que chefs d'orchestre, c'est �� nous qu'il incombe de communiquer le plaisir de l'interpr��tation musicale, d'amener nos coll��gues �� donner le meilleur d'eux-m��mes et de faire de chaque concert une f��te tout en respectant la volont�� du compositeur. C'est vraiment rassurant de savoir qu'il y a dans notre pays un prix qui reconna��t le travail que nous faisons. ��

POUR EN SAVOIR PLUS

�� Visitez le site web d'Alain Trudel, de l'Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, du CBC Radio Orchestra et du Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

�� Renseignez-vous sur le Prix Heinz Unger, administr�� par le Conseil des arts de l'Ontario, et les laur��ats des ann��es pr��c��dentes.

�� Heinz Unger : notice biographique.

- 30 -

RENSEIGNEMENTS M��DIAS

Hamal Docter, coordonnateur des communications, Conseil des arts de l'Ontario

416-969-7434 / 1-800-387-0058, poste 7434

hdocter@arts.on.ca

SOUND ADVICE with Rick Phillips to be Streamed on Universal Music���s UMUSIC.CA from April 22, 2008

Toronto, April 21, 2008 - Universal Music Canada is pleased to announce that Rick Phillips' SOUND ADVICE, will begin streaming on www.umusic.ca from April 22, 2008.

Phillips' popular show SOUND ADVICE, which aired on CBC Radio for 14 seasons, ended its run this past March. The show's programming, so beloved by his listeners, will continue in the new streaming format. The first portion of his program will consist of recent release reviews critiqued using his star rating system. The second portion will continue with The Library, an in-depth look at an artist or repertoire of special interest.

The new program will be bi-weekly and it will be posted on alternate Tuesdays coinciding with the new release Tuesdays established by the recording industry. SOUND ADVICE will feature solo, chamber and orchestral music as well as featuring more vocal, choral and operatic fare than his previous show.

Says Phillips, "It is a great pleasure to be continuing SOUND ADVICE with Universal Music Canada and to have the show archived and available on demand, allowing audiences to listen at their convenience.

Thom McKercher, Director of Classics and Jazz added "We are pleased to announce that Rick has joined the Universal family. Having listened to his show for years, I know we are working with a professional critic who knows recorded music as well as anyone in Canada".

Also, the ever popular Music Quiz portion of the program remains intact with a prize being awarded every show.

About Rick Phillips

For 14 years, Rick Phillips was the Host and Producer of SOUND ADVICE, the weekly guide to classical music and recordings on CBC Radio One and Radio Two. Rick continues to offer adult music appreciation courses at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto. He is the author of "The Essential Classical Recordings -101 CDs" published by McClelland & Stewart with an accompanying soundtrack distributed by Universal Music Canada. Rick also writes program notes and music-related articles, hosts concerts and guided musical tours to Europe, and presents pre-concert talks. He holds a B. Mus. from McGill University and a M. Mus. from the University of Toronto.

Huge Rally to Save CBC Radio Orchestra

MEDIA ADVISORY �ݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬ�April 16, 2008
��
HUGE RALLY TO SAVE CBC RADIO ORCHESTRA��
SUNDAY APRIL 20 AT 2 P.M. AT THE CHAN CENTRE AT UBC

Wednesday April 16, 2008 �ݒĶ Standing on guard for the CBC Radio Orchestra, April 20 at 2:00 pm CBC Radio Two listeners are following up on last week���s successful staging of a coast to coast National Day Of Action to demand CBC brass back down on their apparent systematic destruction of the Radio 2 network and their decision to replace it with programming completely foreign to it's core audiences. The rally Sunday is a call to the CBC Board and Management to restore the CBC Radio Orchestra within a revitalized CBC Radio Two.��
��
The rally on Sunday starting at 2:00 pm is an hour before the orchestra���s regularly scheduled, and nearly sold-out, performance at 3:00 pm. ��
��
The natural amphitheatre at the Chan entrance is a dramatic location, which will accommodate an impressive number of supporters, while allowing the 1,200 concert-goers easy access.
��
���It���s not the usual sort of prelude to an afternoon of live music at the Chan��� said Canadian Music Centre head Colin Miles. ���This situation has become a flashpoint for the general downgrading of CBC by the people who have been entrusted with our precious public broadcasting system."
��
���We are seeing the end of a cultural treasure that serves Canadians coast to coast and is an essential player in our musical exports to the world. ��Elimination of the CBC Orchestra is the destruction of our ability to tell our stories. ��It amounts to censorship and stifling of free expression of our composers" he stated.
��
���At 2 cents per year per person, how can CBC management, the board and Parliament agree to this? The issue has now been raised on the floor of the House of Commons and we will be keeping the pressure up.��� added Colin Miles.
��
Three years ago CBC management stopped the CBC Orchestra from working in the studio to record music for broadcast and CDs and told they could only give public performances. Renting concert halls and paying for publicity to promote concerts is expensive. This orchestra has a recording studio that was built for them and well trained creative producer, recording engineer and orchestra librarian on staff. CBC management needs to be reminded what power in creating programming they have by keeping their orchestra. We are calling on CBC to restore the orchestra and get it back into the studio to do what they do best for the benefit of all of Canada. As the CBC Radio Orchestra's own webpage states "With an audience as diverse as the Canadian experience, we create engaging musical radio programs, commission and perform new works as well as established classics, and showcase exceptional Canadian performers and conductors."
��
Rally organized by:
Save the CBC Orchestra Committee
Based in Vancouver, Reaching Across the Country

www.StandOnGuardforCBC.ca <http://www.StandOnGuardforCBC.ca>��

Free lecture: Sunday-@-the-Segal, before The Odd Couple, May 4, 11:00am, with Andy Nulman

CBC Radio One Presents

Sunday-@-the-Segal

A series of intimate conversation and riveting lectures at

The Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre

Andy Nulman

Don't miss Sunday-@-the-Segal for the upcoming production, The Odd Couple, as we welcome local connoisseur of comedy, Andy Nulman. Andy prides himself as having always marched to the beat of a different drum. Who better, then, to talk about being odd? Join us for a Sunday-@-the-Segal that guarantees to be different, surprising, unexpected, fun, unique and innovative. Andy is the President and CMO of Airborne Mobile but is perhaps best known for his 15-year tenure as CEO of Montreal's renowned Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival. An acclaimed and thought-provoking public speaker who has motivated and challenged Fortune 500 companies such as GM, Eveready/Energizer, 3M and Wal-Mart, Mr. Nulman has also written two best-selling books, How To Do The Impossible and I Almost Killed George Burns. Andy was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 business leaders by the Financial Post in 1997, voted one of the Top 100 Montrealers of the 20^th century by the Montreal Gazette in 2000 and was honoured as a distinguished recipient of the McGill Management Achievement Award in 2004.

Sunday, May 4, 2008, 11 AM

Coffee and refreshments will be served in the lobby

(Tickets on sale now for the first preview of The Odd Couple at 1:30 pm)

At the Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre, 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine Rd.

FREE ADMISSION!! No reservations necessary, general admission

The Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre and Delmar present

The Odd Couple, May 4-25, 2008

For tickets call (514) 739-7944 or log on to www.segalcentre.org

-30-

Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two

April 7^TH, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Friday, April 11^th, 2008 at 12:00pm Eastern Time, the 12,500 strong members of a hastily arranged Facebook group entitled ���Save Classical Music at the CBC��� will be holding a NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION called ���RAISE A RUCKUS FOR RADIO TWO!��� in over a dozen cities across Canada.

In response to recently announced programming changes at CBC Radio Two and the planned axing of the famed CBC Vancouver Radio Orchestra, classical music fans, musicians and Radio Two listeners are planning to take to the streets in front of their local CBC installations in every province simultaneously. Demonstrations are to be held at CBC facilities in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, London, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. John���s; with possible demonstrations to be held in Regina, Kingston, ON, and Saint John, NB as well.

Disappointment with the planned changes has been swiftly building and increasingly vocal since the CBC���s announcement of March 4^th, where top executives including Richard Stursberg - head of CBC English services, Jennifer McGuire ��� head of CBC radio, and Mark Steinmetz ��� director of radio programming divulged that CBC Radio Two���s 40 year tradition as a primarily classical music broadcaster would be coming to a close. Weekday classical music programming is to be cut from 12 hours daily to 5 off-peak hours leading to the cancellation of many popular shows. Though listeners realize that shows and hosts come and go, most of the quality programming is to be replaced with pop music with sprinklings of light jazz and world music. Classical music fans and musicians feel as though they have lost a trusted and beloved member of the family ��� they feel like they are being punished for CBC���s inability to stay true to its historical mandate and CBC���s unwillingness to expand conventional broadcast services to include more diverse genres and programming.

Since coming into power, the current team of Programming Executives have been responsible for the fact that:

• They have failed to transform the innovative Radio 3 into a national broadcast network, thereby necessitating, in their eyes, the gutting of Radio Two���s classical programming in order to satisfy their self-perceived mandate to be all things to all people.
• The CBC Young Composers Competition and the CBC Young Performers Competition, have been suspended for the past four years. These two important domestic competitions had been instrumental in the development of some of Canada���s best musical talent including: Angela Hewitt, Ben Heppner, Jon Kimura Parker. The Canada Council provided the funding for the $10,000.00 grand prizes.
• The CBC has, as of February, erased the classical music budget for CBC Records, precisely on the eve of their first Grammy win by Canadian violinist James Ehnes and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Bramwell Tovey on the CBC Records label. Many artists, such as Measha Brueggergosman, launched their careers on a CBC Records label recording.
• The commissioning budget previously devoted to commissioning new works from composers is now spread out to cover jazz, pop musicians, and some unspecified amount of contemporary music. CBC says they will spend the same amount on classical commissions ��� but their track record is not looking good.
• The proposed cuts for the Fall of 2008 represents further reductions in classical music content, eliminating classical music 6am to 10am and 3pm to 6pm - reducing by over half the overall classical weekday programming from 12 hours to 5 hours, and shifting all weekday classical programming to inconvenient, off-peak times of the day when no one who works or goes to school can tune in.
• The axing of the 70 year old CBC Radio Orchestra: North America's last remaining radio orchestra and platform for countless premieres of new Canadian compositions. And then, one day after citing lack of resources as the reason for cutting the orchestra, buying an expensive full-page ad in a national newspaper to convince Canadians about how wonderful the evisceration of their national radio music network is - signed and supported by wealthy pop music recording industry executives and artists, the people who stand to gain monetarily from the demise of CBC���s classical programming

All existing and long-standing weekday classical shows on Radio Two are to be cut, including:

• Music & Company - Tom Allen's morning wake up show
• Here's to You - Catherine Belyea's all-request show
• Studio Sparks - due to the venerable Eric Friesen's "retirement"
• Disc Drive - Jurgen Gothe's popular, 30 year old drive-home show
• Sound Advice ��� Rick Philips��� extraordinarily informative and unique classical recording showcase and review

These changes come on the heels of last years round of cuts to vital programs such as:

• Danielle Charbonneau's much-loved Music for a While;
• Larry Lake's new composer showcase Two New Hours;
• Symphony Hall - Canada's live orchestra recording showcase;
• The Singer and the Song - Catherine Belyea's excellent Classical vocal program;
• Northern Lights - the overnight Classical program beloved by Night Owls everywhere;
• The reformatting of In Performance- a primarily classical live performance show into the unfocused Canada Live - a uniformly non-classical and confusing mix of various genres

The CBC claims financial constraints drive these cuts, yet spending in other areas, and support from the commercial recording industry suggest otherwise.

Canadian classical music fans and musicians and Radio Two listeners have had enough of this ���concerted��� and unprecedented campaign against classical and art music programming and infrastructure. Though their numbers may be relatively small compared to commercial radio, Radio Two listeners are among the most engaged and loyal in the world. They feel the have been betrayed and belittled by the current management team entrenched at the nation���s public broadcaster.

We are expecting a large and lively turnout at CBC installations across Canada, in every province where Radio Two is heard and loved. These demonstrations will occur simultaneously at 1200hrs Eastern Time (9am in Vancouver, 1:30pm in St. John���s, etc.). We are inviting all lovers of classical music and public support for the non-commercial arts scene in this country to join with us in calling for the restoration of Radio Two���s vital classical music programming and the reversal of the decision to axe the CBC Radio Orchestra. Let our voices ring out and be heard! We welcome and encourage all members of the print, radio, electronic and television media to cover this important story and join us on this important day for Canada���s classical music community.

**********************************

The following is a list of local CBC facilities addresses across Canada where demonstrations are being planned, including local times and local contact information:

9am Pacific: Victoria: 1025 Pandora Avenue

Contact: Cecilia Porter - ceciliap@uvic.ca

9am Pacific: Vancouver: 775 Cambie Street

Contacts: David Taylor Gill - dtg1@sfu.ca

Jocelyn Morlock ��� jocelynmorlock@yahoo.ca

John Oliver ��� joliver1@earsay.com

Michael Vincent ��� info@michaelvincent.ca

Tanya Battaglia - savecbc@hotmail.com

10am Mountain: Calgary: 1724 Westmount Blvd. NW

Contact - Andrew Nowry Andrewnowry@gmail.com

Darren Young - silentearth66@hotmail.com

10am Mountain: Edmonton: 23 Edmonton City Centre, 10062-102nd Avenue

Contacts - Scott Bursey - scottbursey@gmail.com

John Brough ��� jsbrough@shaw.ca

Peter McGillivray radio2@petermcgillivray.com

10am Sask: Saskatoon: CBC 144 2nd Ave South

Contacts: Karen Mak hop_rocks@hotmail.com

Lorraine McGrath Khachtourians

Brendan McLean - bjm384@mail.usask.ca

10am Sask: Regina: 2440 Broad Street

11am Central: Winnipeg: 541 Portage Avenue

Contact: Jonathan Klassen - jklasse@gmail.com

12pm Eastern: Toronto: 250 Front Street West

Contacts: James Baldwin jamesmichaelbaldwin@rogers.com

Chris Foley chris@collaborativepiano.com

Kathleen Rudolph Jkrudolph5@aol.com

12pm Eastern: London, ON: 208 Piccadilly Street

Contact: Forrest Pass - fpass@uwo.ca

Durval Cesetti - durval.cesetti.cbcprotestlondon@gmail.com

12pm Eastern: Ottawa: 181 Queen Street, Ottawa - Meeting at Sparks Street entrance

Contact: James Wooten - cbcradiotwoandme@hotmail.com

Gary Hayes - cansona@rogers.com

12pm Eastern: Montreal: 1400 Rene Levesque East

Contact-Alexandra Fol - alexandra.fol@mail.mcgill.ca

Emily Gray - contra_alto@hotmail.com

Michael Shannon - michael.shannon@mail.mcgill.ca

1pm Atlantic: Saint John: 560 Main Street

1pm Atlantic: Halifax: 1601 South Park

Contact: Christian Stalley - cspstudio@yahoo.ca

Stephanie Moore - st886157@dal.ca

Janet Brush - thunderbug22003@yahoo.ca

1pm Atlantic: Charlottetown: 430 University Avenue

Contact Kate Huston - drummingdiva@hotmail.com

1:30pm Newfoundland: St John's: 25 Henry Street

Contact: Heather Joyce - livingabundance@hotmail.com

***************************************

Links and Web Resources:

Save Classical Music at the CBC

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9009203294

Save the CBC Radio Orchestra

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10103441879

Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two ��� Facebook Event Page

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10046514724

Vancouver composer, John Oliver's Ad Campaign Site

http://standonguardforcbcradio.earsay.com/

La Scena Musicale's list of web articles:

http://www.scena.org/columns/spotlight.asp?lan=2&flag=1&id=79

Save the CBC Orchestra

http://savecbcorchestra.com/

Save the CBC

http://www.savethecbc.ca/

For more general information, please contact Peter McGillivray ��� radio2@petermcgillivray.com

or by phone at 647-895-6757

Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two!

A National Day of Action to save Radio 2 and the CBC Orchestra

Friday, April 11, 2008
9:00am - 1:30pm ��(see specific times for each city below)

St. John's, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary,��
Vancouver, and more!


After the wonderful success of the recent protest at CBC Vancouver to��
protest the demise of the CBC Radio Orchestra, a protest in Montreal is��
being organized by musicians and Radio Two fans in solidarity this Friday.��
In order to give folks in other cities enough time to organize, OUR NATIONAL��
DAY OF ACTION DEMONSTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT FRIDAY, APRIL 11th (note��the change, folks)

Can we expand this protest to every CBC installation across the country. Do��
you dare to take a portion of your lunch hour to travel to the CBC centre in��
YOUR community to call for an end to the cutting of classical music��
programming and infrastructure? Can we make it a rolling protest, that hits��
every time zone, one after the other (half an hour later in Newfoundland)?


Here are the addresses and times:

9am PST: Victoria: 1025 Pandora Avenue

9am PST: Vancouver: 775 Cambie Street

10am MST: Calgary: 1724 Westmount Blvd. NW
Contact - Andrew Nowry��Andrewnowry@gmail.com

10am MST: Edmonton: 23 Edmonton City Centre, 10062-102nd Avenue
Contact - Scott Bursey

11am CST: Regina: 2440 Broad Street

11am CST: Winnipeg: 541 Portage Avenue

11am CST: Thunder Bay: 213 East Miles Street

12pm EST: Toronto: 250 Front Street West
Contact Peter McGillivray��radio2@petermcgillivray.com��(though I will��probably be in Edmonton - could somebody else take over Toronto?)

12pm EST: Sudbury: 15 MacKenzie Street

12pm EST: Windsor:825 Riverside Drive West

12pm EST: Ottawa: 181 Queen Street, Ottawa
Meet at Sparks Street entrance
Contact:

12pm EST: Montreal: 1400 Rene Levesque East
Contact-Alexandra Fol
alexandra.fol@mail.mcgill.ca

1pm AST: Fredericton: 1160 Regent Street

1pm AST: Saint John: 560 Main Street

1pm AST: Moncton: 250 University Avenue

1pm AST: Halifax: 1601 South Park

1pm AST: Charlottetown: 430 University Avenue
Contact Kate Huston��drummingdiva@hotmail.com

1:30pm NST: St John's: 25 Henry Street

Make sure to also Copy and past the text of this event into an email and��
forward it to as many people as you can. Let's make sure we get this��
movement off Facebook and into the general public as well. over 100 people��
showed up in Vancouver. If we can get even 20 to show up at each CBC station��
we will have made a huge statement.

For inspiration check out the following group sites:
Save Classical Music at the CBC
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9009203294��
Save the CBC Radio Orchestra
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10103441879��

Protest at CBC Vancouver on April 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contemporary composer Anita Sleeman of West Vancouver, BC is spearheading a protest on Tuesday morning at 10am at the CBC building Temporary Entrance, 775 Cambie Street in Vancouver. She is asking everyone who disagrees with the elimination of the CBC Orchestra to attend, including musicians, listeners, and members of the public.

"Composers depend on the skill and dedication of such performers as the CBC Radio Orchestra for the production of their compositions, music which presents unique techniques and concept approaches, beyond the requirements of the mainstream repertoire. Discontinuing this ensemble is putting musical creation back into the nineteenth century."

"The CBC belongs to the people of Canada, not a political party. The President of CBC was a Harper appointee. If the people of Canada don't want the public purse raided, we must stand up to this cultural tyranny."

For more information contact: thinkAbstract@shaw.ca
www.anitasleeman.com

Canadian Music Centre and Canadian League of Composers Shocked By Decision to Disband CBC Radio Orchestra

March 28, 2008, Toronto, ON ��� Today, the Canadian Music Centre and the Canadian League of Composers, are trying to come to terms with the CBC Radio's decision to disband its orchestra ��� the last radio orchestra still functioning in North America. This announcement, made privately yesterday in Vancouver with less than a 24 hour notice to the orchestra's musicians, has left much of the Canadian musical community questioning the broadcaster's commitment to both classical music and its own broader cultural mandate.

Elisabeth Bihl, CMC Executive Director, believes that "the decision to disband the CBC Radio Orchestra must have been a decision made with little to no input from the Canadian public or our music community. The orchestra may have been around for some 70 years - but since when is longevity equated automatically with having already served its purpose?"

She further states that "the need for CBC Radio to fulfill its mandate to showcase Canadian talent has not evaporated with time. If CBC management can simply destroy such a vitally important infrastructure for Canadian talent, then it must be held publicly accountable. As a government funded institution, it must see beyond its immediate actions of budget cutting and pursue its mandate cultural role ��� for the benefit of all Canadians."

Jennifer McGuire, Executive Director of CBC English Radio, indicated yesterday that the money "saved" as a result of this decision will be used more efficiently by spending it on other Radio 2 musical programs. While also asserting that CBC Radio was still committed to innovative and creative Canadian music, she made no concrete indication that this funding would be used to directly support future classical music programming.

As organizations focused on the promotion of Canadian composers and their work, the Canadian Music Centre and Canadian League of Composers, see this most recent CBC Radio announcement as yet another in a series of decisions made without input from the communities to which the broadcaster is ultimately accountable ��� both its listeners and the broader Canadian public. Sadly, the disbanding of the CBC Radio Orchestra came as a fait-a-compli news yesterday afternoon.

Ms. Bihl feels that the following statement made today (via e-mail) by Sarah Davis Buechner, a piano professor at the University, all too accurately sums up this situation: "It is a sad day in the history of this country when artists have to stand up to defend their contributions against the very institutions which were founded to foster cultural understanding, emotional connection and pride in the Canadian national character."

Established in 1959, the Canadian Music Centre exists to stimulate the awareness, appreciation and performance of Canadian music, making the music of its Associate Composers available through its music libraries and through various promotional and outreach activities. The CMC is Canada's primary information resource, producer, distributor of concert music and sound recordings.

Founded in 1951, the Canadian League of Composers is the oldest organization in Canada that speaks for professional composers in an official capacity. It represents the interests of composers, monitoring and influencing the conditions that affect their livelihood and public image.

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For further information, please contact:

Steven W. Foster

Manager of Communications & Resource Development

Phone: 416.961.6601 ext. 303 Email: sfoster@musiccentre.ca