BANGOR – The voice of Maine Public Radio’s classical music programming is leaving.

Leitha Christie will depart as the network’s classical music director and announcer supervisor. She has hosted MPR’s classical music morning show weekdays since September 2001.

Christie took over the position from Dave Bunker. Charles Beck, vice president of radio services for MPR, said on Monday that Christie will stay on through next month. Christie declined to comment Monday on her departure.

MPR will search for her successor “far and wide, as well as locally,” Beck said. The successful candidate should have a passion for classical music, he added.

Duties include producing and hosting the morning show, as well as supervising other announcers and overseeing the operations of the Bangor studio. A bachelor’s degree and three years of classical music program production/hosting and experience in radio operations are required, according to the advertisement for the position.