WNYC® Radio's Margaret Juntwait Selected as First Woman Announcer of the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Afternoon Radio Broadcasts

(September 28, 2004, New York, NY)—WNYC, New York Public Radio®'s classical music host Margaret Juntwait has been named the new announcer for the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Afternoon Radio Broadcasts. Ms. Juntwait is only the third regular announcer of the long-standing broadcast series, launched in 1931, and is the first woman to hold the position. The Metropolitan Opera announced the news today.

The Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Afternoon Radio Broadcasts is the longest-running cultural program in American broadcast history, and is heard by over 10 million listeners internationally.

Ms. Juntwait will continue her stellar work as host of WNYC's Evening Music with Margaret Juntwait, which can be heard on Saturday and Sunday nights on WNYC 93.9 FM and via live webstream at www.wnyc.org. For WNYC, she also regularly hosts live local and national radio broadcasts which have recently included an opening concert of Carnegie's Zankel Hall, featuring the Emerson String Quartet with Emanuel Ax; New Year's Eve with the New York Philharmonic; the Philharmonic's star-studded broadcast of Candide last spring; and last summer's opening Mostly Mozart Program from Avery Fisher Hall. Ms. Juntwait's also hosts special music programs and makes regular appearances on WNYC's weekday talk/music program, Soundcheck®. Upcoming projects include co-hosting the BBC/WNYC Music Party, a joint production of WNYC Radio and the BBC World Service. The two BBC/WNYC programs, taped in New York City and heard internationally, will include conversation and performances featuring the Ritz Chamber Ensemble and the Orion String Quartet.

"It is no surprise that Margaret Juntwait has been chosen to be the new voice of the Metropolitan Opera, perhaps the most coveted radio broadcast job in the field of classical music," said Elena Park, WNYC's Executive Producer, Music & Culture. "Margaret is an extraordinarily gracious, personable and knowledgeable host - qualities well known to her fans at WNYC Radio, where she has been a fixture since 1991. WNYC is delighted that she will continue in her current role at the station, while sharing her love of opera with the Met's international audience."

WNYC®, New York Public Radio®, is New York 's premier public radio station, comprising WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching more than one million listeners every week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the entire country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio® and Public Radio International®. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting.