I’m sure that some of you have heard about the pending sale of KFUO-FM, here in St. Louis. The demise of classical music on radio has become widespread, but the situation in our St. Louis community is particularly dire, because we have relied upon KFUO to give us concert announcements, interviews with local arts presenters and even “live” broadcasts of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Below, I have copied a letter from the SLSO, which some of you may have already received, explaining the situation quite clearly and supplying you with links and phone #s at the bottom for writing and phoning in your opinions. Also, here’s a link to a recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Sarah Bryan Miller with an even more pointed and detailed accounting.: http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/culture-club/culture-club/2009/10/lcmskfuo-noemi-neidorffs-letter/ As I have done, I hope you will all express yourselves and help me take action on this matter!

The sale of St. Louis’ only classical music station was announced this morning, Tuesday, October 6, 2009. KFUO-Classic 99 (99.1FM), which is owned by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, was sold to Gateway Creative Broadcasting, which plans to change the station to JOY FM, a contemporary Christian music station. The sale is pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). You may read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s report on the sale here.

KFUO-Classic 99 has been providing classical music to the St. Louis community for over 60 years. The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has a long and valued relationship with KFUO. During the 2009-2010 season, Saturday night orchestral concerts have been broadcast live on Classic 99. The SLSO is one of only a handful of orchestras in the United States to offer live broadcasts.

The SLSO, along with many of its fans and friends in the local artistic community, believes the loss of KFUO-Classic 99 would diminish the cultural diversity of the St. Louis community. With the loss of KFUO, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, one of the cultural jewels of the city, would lose a vital advocate. The sounds of classical music over the region’s airwaves would be silenced.

We suggest that you express your opinion on the pending sale of KFUO. You may contact the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod via its website or e-mail its Board of Directors: bod@lcms.org. Or you may reach the Synod by phone 1-888-THE-LCMS (843-5267).