Saving Classical

On Sept. 20, KFAC, after 50 years of providing classical music programming to Los Angeles, will switch to rock & roll. The other classical station, KUSC, after yet another successful fund-raiser, is going to spend less time on classical music and more on talk.

What are we classical music lovers going to do about this cultural disaster?

I am just one such classical music lover who is horrified at the loss of KFAC. I am sure there are thousands more out there who feel the same, but just don’t know what to do about it. I hereby offer myself as a communication center in the hope that we can unite to solve the problem. My hope is that we can set up a nonprofit foundation to buy a frequency slot and a station, hire two or three professionals to run it, promote a CD library from the record companies, and use volunteers for most everything else.

I am most anxious to hear from potential volunteers such as attorneys who know how to set up a foundation, deal with the FCC, and apply for grants from foundations; engineers who know how to run a radio station; managers who can manage one; people with fund-raising skills.

Of course, we could all just retreat to our CD changers, but where would we go to extend our musical horizons? Where would the young be introduced to good music? Where would the next generation of concert-goers come from? Must classical music becomes a pleasure practiced only in private, while the air waves are surrendered to the pop culture?

Please write me at 552 12th St., Santa Monica, Calif., 90402-2908. Let me know your suggestions. Let me know how you can help. Let’s make sure that classical music becomes a permanent part of the L.A. radio spectrum.

DR. HARVEY S. FREY

Santa Monica