Martin Goldsmith has been slated to run the classical programming channels. He's long been associated with NPR and is both a musician and an author.  XM's classical channels will be handled by Sari Zalesin. She's a classically trained pianist and on-air talent at WXCD in Chicago.

RUsirius.com invites all XM classical listeners to comment on their programming and to provide additional information about their lineup.  We'll be posting all germane submissions below.

An XMer who's considering getting Sirius about classical music says (posted 7 February 2003) :

"Here's a truly stupid name for a classical music channel.  It is what we used to call 'classical juke-box', and it has perfectly glorious sound with better spacial location and separation than I've heard on any of my over 500 CDs.  I have it wired into my home theater, so it is playing through a Pioneer Elite receiver and 5 custom-modified ½- coffin-sized speakers.  Each is 4-way with 15" woofers.  The signal-to-noise-ratio is better than any other source at my disposal, including laser disc, DVD and the Dolby Digital sound from satellite DirecTV's HD Net channel with optical digital feed.

"There are no commercials.  Several times an hour, the mood is shattered--between selections.  An announcer will come on at a level louder than the music and squeal some asinine motto: 'This is the music that will live FOREVER!' or shriek a rhetorical question: 'So who's YOUR favorite composer?!!'  These jarring announcements are delivered in an amazing array of character voices that contrast in a v. jagged fashion to the refinement of the music.

"I have complained by e-mail, without reply or response, so I suppose it is time to get Sirius..."