STATE STREET RESEARCH CEO NAMED TO BOSTON BALLET BOARD OF TRUSTEES

"Based on Dick's demonstrated leadership in the business world, we believe that he will be an invaluable contributor as a trustee of Boston Ballet, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Board," stated Sue McQuay, co-chair of the Ballet's Governance Committee.

Trustees of Boston Ballet are elected to three-year terms. As part of the selection process, Boston Ballet's Governance Committee seeks to nominate individuals who have the ability and willingness to carry out the governance responsibilities of a trustee of a substantial non-profit organization. Trustees are expected to make Boston Ballet a top priority in terms of trustee service, including regular attendance at Board meetings, service on one or more committees, and a willingness to serve as chair of a committee and/or special event. In addition, Trustees are expected to be active in identifying and attracting new subscribers and benefactors, and in raising funds from new and existing benefactors.

Boston Ballet was founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams and was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Under the leadership of Williams and her successors: Violetta Verdy, Bruce Wells, Bruce Marks, and Anna-Marie Holmes, the Ballet's national and international reputation has continued to grow. The Company too has grown; it now is one of the top five ballet companies in North America and ranks among the top companies in the world. Boston Ballet is committed to maintaining a repertoire that combines timeless classics such as The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Swan Lake with the imaginative visions of today's most innovative choreographers. In preserving the integrity of the classics, the company invites legendary dancers and artists to assist with staging and coaching, and assuring their talents and experiences are handed down through the generations.

State Street Research & Management Company, with a money management history dating back to 1924, is one of the nation's first investment management organizations. The Boston-based firm is a subsidiary of MetLife, one of the world's largest financial services companies. As of June 30, 2001, State Street Research managed $49 billion in assets, of which over $31 billion represented institutional clients and $18 billion represented mutual fund and variable annuity portfolios. The firm manages money for 10 of the 15 largest U.S. corporate pension plans (as reported in the 2001 Money Management Directory), union programs, public employee pension plans, mutual funds for over 576,000 shareholder accounts, as well as individually managed accounts for affluent investors. The firm's corporate Web site address is www.ssrfunds.com.