WNYC Radio today announced that Terrance McKnight has been named the new host of the weekday edition Evening Music, the station's nightly classical musical program. He brings to the position wide and varied musical experience that includes performance, teaching and radio broadcast.

McKnight will debut on Evening Music on Monday, March 3, and will regularly be heard Monday-Thursday nights from 7-11pm. Evening Music airs on 93.9 FM and via live webstream at www.wnyc.org.

McKnight joins WNYC from Georgia Public Broadcasting, where he was creator, producer and host of Studio GPB for five years, a show which grew in popularity and influence during his tenure. The program featured a wide array of musical artists through interviews, live studios sessions, and commercial recordings, and guests included John Adams, Osvaldo Golijov, Marin Alsop, Marcus Roberts and Michael Eric Dyson. Due to its popularity, the program expanded from one night per week to five. While at GPB, he also initiated and hosted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Broadcast series, which featured live performances and interviews with conductors, guest soloists and orchestra members.

In addition to his radio work, McKnight was also a member of the Morehouse College faculty, where he taught music appreciation and applied piano since 1998.

An accomplished pianist, McKnight got his start in public radio as the first resident of NPR's Classical Music Diversity Initiative Program, for which he worked at NPR's Performance Today. In 1997, McKnight performed the world premiere of "Broke Baroque," at the National Black Music Caucus 25th Anniversary Celebration in Atlanta as part of a musical tribute to T.J. Anderson.

McKnight holds a B.A. from Morehouse, where he toured with the College Glee Club as an accompanist and soloist, and an M.A. in Music from Georgia State University, where he performed with the 20th Century Chamber Ensemble.

"For us at WNYC it's all about passion, curiosity and communication, and as a performer and educator, Terrance has plenty of all three," said Limor Tomer, WNYC Executive Producer of Music. "He's got a keen curatorial perspective, musical knowledge that transcends particular genres, and a natural ability to convey his insights and interests in an accessible and inclusive way. Terrance is joining a powerful roster of hosts — John Schaefer, Leonard Lopate, Jonathan Schwartz, Kurt Andersen — who serve as trusted guides to the cultural life of the city. We're excited to hear where he'll take us."

"Terrance has been a terrific part of Atlanta's musical life," said Robert Spano, Music Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, "We are sorry to see him go. WNYC is lucky!"

"In all my years of giving professional interviews, I know of no other journalist who is more knowledgeable, more personable and more infectiously enthusiastic than Terrance," said Donald Runnicles, Music Director and Principal Conductor, San Francisco Opera. "He is a wonderful ambassador for the arts."

"In my position as an arts leader, I have been fortunate to meet many individuals with special qualities," said Laurence Kaptain, Dean, Shenandoah Conservatory. "Terrance McKnight is one of the best arts communicators I have ever met, seen, or heard."

"WNYC is a rare place that allows its music hosts the room to not just play recordings, but to take the audience on a musical journey that's personal, unexpected and completely new every day," said McKnight. "I'm excited and challenged by the opportunity to introduce listeners to music they may not be familiar with yet, as well as to hear familiar music in new ways. It's truly an honor to be here."

NY Times: Eclectic Public-Radio Show Has Found Its Voice

Related audio: Terrance McKnight shares four selections that illustrate different musical phases of his life on Soundcheck (February 27, 2008)