Margaret Juntwait (March 18, 1957 – June 3, 2015) was an American radio broadcaster who became widely recognized as the principal announcer and host of the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts. She assumed that position on December 11, 2004, succeeding Peter Allen after his 29 years with the network. Her voice became familiar to listeners across the United States and abroad who tune in for live Saturday matinee transmissions and special Met programming.

Career and role at the Metropolitan Opera

Juntwait's professional life centered on classical music and opera presentation for public and commercial radio outlets, primarily in the New York region. In her role with the Met broadcasts she opened live performances, introduced casts and creative teams, provided concise program notes and explanations for listeners, and led on-air interviews and features tied to the season's productions. Her job required balancing respect for the music with accessible, informed commentary that served both seasoned opera fans and new listeners.

Style, expertise and contributions

Colleagues and audiences noted Juntwait's warm, authoritative delivery and careful preparation. She was respected for accurate pronunciation of singers' and composers' names, for succinct contextual remarks, and for the ability to move smoothly between formal introductions and conversational exchanges with artists and production staff. Her presence helped maintain continuity for a long-running cultural broadcast and reinforced the Metropolitan Opera's national radio identity.

Background and personal life

Juntwait was born in Ridgewood, Ridgewood, New Jersey, and grew up in the nearby community of Upper Saddle River. She lived and worked in the New York metropolitan area for much of her life. She was married to Jamie Katz and was the mother of four children. Her roots in New Jersey and her regional radio work kept her closely connected to local arts and community institutions.

In June 2015 Juntwait died at age 58 in Saddle River after a battle with ovarian cancer. The news of her passing prompted tributes from colleagues, listeners and institutions that recognized her steady stewardship of one of the country's longest-running cultural radio programs. Her death took place in Saddle River, Saddle River, close to where she had spent much of her life, and was reported in local and national arts media from outlets in New Jersey and New York.

Notable facts and legacy

  • She became the Metropolitan Opera's principal radio announcer on December 11, 2004, following a long-serving predecessor.
  • Her work helped sustain a tradition of live, weekly opera broadcasts that reach a broad, international audience.
  • Juntwait is remembered for combining authoritative musical knowledge with a listener-friendly manner that welcomed newcomers to opera.
  • Her life and career are often cited in discussions about public radio, classical music broadcasting, and the role of presenters in connecting audiences to large-scale performing arts institutions.

For additional information about the media and communities that shaped her career, see regional biographies and radio histories that document the role of announcers in sustaining public engagement with classical music and opera. Further details and archival recordings of her broadcasts are preserved in radio collections and by the institutions she served, which provide a record of her contributions to the field.

New Jersey remains an important part of her biographical profile and the community context for her work.