��ñ��

Gail Wein ’82 is president of the New York-based Classical Music Communications, which provides marketing services for artists and projects in classical music. She launched the company in 2008 and has been a classical music critic for The Washington Post, as well as a radio host and producer for National Public Radio (NPR) programs.

“I pride myself on having had an array of very different jobs and careers over the years,” she says. “At ��ñ��, a double major in music (passion) and mathematics (practical) with an unofficial degree in radio via WHRW (the most crucial experience of all) pointed me to several different paths.

“Major turning points in my working life came from bold moves spurred by a deep desire to change directions. Not content with life as an actuary and computer programmer, I did everything I could to get work in radio. Years later, when a new job at a major radio network didn’t work out, I took an enormous leap, moving across the country to start anew. When jobs were scarce, I launched my own publicity company serving classical musicians — going strong for 16 years.”

Wein lists some career highlights:

• The thrill of being on the radio: “From my first day at WHRW to my big-city stint as morning drive host at WETA in Washington, every moment on the air was exhilarating.”

• As a journalist: “Meeting and interviewing some of the people I most admired in the music world — from Yo-Yo Ma, Johnny Cash and Béla Fleck to composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass and conductors Marin Alsop and Leonard Slatkin — and producing these interviews for local and national broadcast.”

• As a writer: “Seeing my first concert review published in The Washington Post, followed by a couple hundred more.”

• In business: “The moment it dawned on me that the set of independent projects I had strung together was a full-time job. Suddenly, I was running a successful business.”

• Travel: “An enviable assignment as producer of a radio program about music festivals took me all over California and on a Mediterranean cruise; journalist junkets to Budapest, Italy and Vail; and Bali to cover an American gamelan ensemble’s tour for NPR.”

• Appearances: “Host and narrator for U.S. Air Force Band shows at the venerable DAR Constitution Hall with guest artists including José Feliciano and Cleo Laine.”

• Living my dream in New York City: “Going to concerts every night and being an integral part of the classical music world.”