There have been plenty of MCML posts filled with hand-wringing about
the declining public for classical music.  I recently chanced upon an
organization which is DOING SOMETHING about this matter.  It is Excellency-1,
an outfit which streams classical music all day at the URL: www.xlnc1.org.
I found out about it because I am visiting in San Diego, where they also
broadcast at 90.7 mHz from a transmitter in Tijuana.  Their programming
is conventional fare, but VERY well chosen.  I am a modern music buff
myself, constantly railing against the insipid 19th century programming
of the commercial CM stations.  However, I find the music on xlnc1 (to
which my radio is constantly tuned in San Diego) just about the best of
the standard repertoire.  I urge members of MCML to try them out, and
perhaps even to contribute to them, as I am doing.  Here is their own
account of their purpose, from the website.


   XLNC1 90.7 FM PROGRAMMING PHILOSOPHY
   Since 1998, XLNC1 has been streaming classical music on the
   internet.  The enormous acceptance and success of our website
   served as an indicator of the need for a different kind of
   classical music station.  After several years of developing a
   following on the internet, we started broadcasting on the radio
   in the San Diego/Tijuana region at the frequency 90.7 FM on
   February 14, 2000.

   PHILOSOPHY
   The XLNC1 (Excellency One) concept envisions a different kind
   of classical music station.  The station is non-profit and
   commercial-free and is programmed with the idea of making classical
   music interesting to everyone.  We feel that classical music
   should not be elitist.  It is our philosophy to serve, educate
   our youth and reach an audience that did not know they liked
   classical music.  Our goal is to break the barrier to the classics
   and allow everyone to enjoy this type of music, which is truly
   beneficial and uplifting.

   PROGRAMMING
   The programming includes segments and complete works from the masters
   of classical music and their most well known pieces.

Jon Gallant                and                    Dr. Phage
Department of Gnome Sciences
University of Washington
   Seattle, WA   98195-7360