The Massachusetts Port Authority has launched a contest to find a new voice that embodies the spirit and character of Boston for announcements at Logan International Airport. The competition, which attracted hundreds of applicants, revolved around capturing the distinct local accent and cultural vibe, with judges emphasizing authenticity as a key criterion.
Contestants were asked to read a script featuring notable Boston landmarks and local customs, such as lobster rolls by the harbor, cannoli in the North End, and trips to Gloucester, a name that proved to be a defining linguistic hurdle. Pronouncing Gloucester correctly—as "GLOS-ter," with a Bostonian twist—helped judges quickly identify genuine local voices from submissions. Sarah Lee, Massachusetts Port Authority’s manager of transportation planning and one of the judges, said the pronunciation served as an effective filter to weed out inauthentic accents.
Among the roughly 500 entries, the judges selected eight finalists, including a range of professionals such as a teacher, an HVAC pipe fitter, an entrepreneur, and a musical-theater performer. Finalist Meagan Lewis-Michelson, a 37-year-old musical-theater professional and professor from Malden, brought a strong Boston pedigree, supporting her audition with a Larry Bird doll and a Dunkin’ Donuts cup—symbols of local pride. Lewis-Michelson recounted how adapting her Boston accent was a learning process during her time at Harvard, reflecting a broader theme of navigating local identity.
Other contestants, like 29-year-old Boston College law student Max German, aimed to challenge stereotypes about Boston, highlighting qualities of community kindness and resilience. Alex Marcin, 41, submitted multiple versions of his audition to find the right balance of accent clarity and authenticity.
The competition drew attention from some local celebrities, including actor Ben Affleck, who recorded a humorous version cautioning against calling Boston "Beantown." Chris Palermo, a broadcaster and voice coach involved in judging, offered advice on capturing the accent's nuances, suggesting a mix of fatigue, slight inebriation, and irritation to replicate the local tone authentically.
Finalists made a public appearance earlier this month on a radio show with Governor Maura Healey, where the camaraderie and shared local identity among the participants were palpable. For one finalist, Kristin Ingala, a bartender from Cape Cod, losing her voice right before the radio appearance did not diminish her authenticity, as she joked about her vocal strain being a sign of true Bostonian grit.
Massport CEO Rich Davey said the contest was developed in response to customer feedback indicating that parts of the airport announcements lacked a distinctly Boston feel. The final step in the selection process is a public vote this week to determine the winning voice, which will receive a modest payment for recording future announcements. For many participants, the opportunity to represent Boston’s unique character and leave a personal mark on a major city gateway far outweighs any financial incentive.
One finalist, retired DMV worker Phyllis Thibodeaux Beach, sees the contest as a legacy-building moment. The 76-year-old, whose father worked on multiple Boston landmarks, expressed a desire for her voice to be a familiar presence to future generations of travelers passing through Logan Airport.