Choral Artist in Residence & Director of Choral Activities

Shenandoah Conservatory, one of the country’s leading centers for collaborative work across the performing arts, is seeking nominations and applications for an exceptional musician, choral director, and teacher to join the Vocal/Choral Division faculty as Choral Artist-in-Residence and Director of Choral Activities. (Rank for this career-contract tract position is dependent on qualifications.) This appointment begins in August 2023.

CONSERVATORY CHOIR
Shenandoah Conservatory Choir, the conservatory’s premier choir and one of three choral ensembles within the Conservatory, has attained a singular profile during the past few decades. Most recently, the choir has: revealed its dedication to new music with numerous premier performances by a diversity of living composers; pursued recording projects with organizations such as INSeries Opera and The Washington Choir and Orchestra; pursued innovative collaborations with the Conservatory’s instrumental, and theater and dance areas; and accepted an invitation to appear on the main series of the Venice Biennale International Festival of Contemporary Music. Past accomplishments include performances under numerous international conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and Mstislav Rostropovich, a tradition of international performance tours to major European performance venues, the receipt of a Grammy award, and involvement in world premieres of major choral works (including Sir John Tavener’s final compositions). The incoming director is charged to continue the tradition of excellence in the choral arts, and work strategically with colleagues across the Conservatory to further strengthen the choral culture.

SHENANDOAH CONSERVATORY
Shenandoah Conservatory was founded in 1875 and has an extraordinary legacy of shaping music and the performing arts in Virginia and beyond. Located at the head of the historic Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, 70 miles west of Washington, DC, the Conservatory is now home to over 640 award-winning students from across the nation and globe enrolled in baccalaureate, master, and doctoral curricula in the areas of music, theater, and dance, and includes a distinguished faculty of over 125, half of whom are full- time. Beyond being a comprehensive performing arts school, Shenandoah Conservatory is home to exceptional artists and scholars who are unusually oriented towards collaboration and innovative approaches to the career preparation of students. The Conservatory’s ShenCoLAB is but one example of the Conservatory’s nation-leading embrace of innovation and collaboration: a (first-in-the-country) week-long stoppage of all classes and rehearsals across all programs with the school turned over to students for student-led (and faculty-mentored) collaborative projects. The Conservatory’s proximity to Washington, DC, and Dulles Airport, ensures easy access to and regular interaction with professionals from around the country and the world. www.su.edu/conservatory

SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY
Shenandoah University, headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke, Fairfax and Loudoun counties, is a private, nationally recognized university that blends the best of professional studies and the liberal arts. With approximately 4,000 students and more than 200 areas of study in six different schools (including Shenandoah Conservatory), Shenandoah promotes a close-knit community rich in creative energy and intellectual challenge. Shenandoah students collaborate with accomplished professors who provide focused, individual attention, all the while leading several programs to be highly nationally ranked. Through innovative partnerships and programs at both the local and global level, there are exceptional opportunities for students to learn in and out of the classroom. Shenandoah empowers its students to improve the human condition and to be principled professionals and leaders wherever they go. Shenandoah is a Big Little University Rising. For more information, visit su.edu .

RESPONSIBILITIES
Beyond directing the Conservatory Choir, the chosen candidate will teach choral conducting across levels, work with choral colleagues to further elevate the choral culture at Shenandoah Conservatory and recruit to the Conservatory, and help to advance the Conservatory’s reputation as a premier and innovative place of study where artists from diverse backgrounds actively engage around innovative and collaborative work.

Specifically, the desired candidate will:

• Lead the Conservatory Choir in pursuing the highest levels of artistry;
• Teach choral conducting and related courses at undergraduate and graduate levels;
• Pursue high-impact strategic projects as possible which can further strengthen the Conservatory’s reputation and profile in choral training and performance in Virginia and beyond;
• Work collaboratively with conducting faculty across the Conservatory;
• Work with members of the vocal-choral division to devise and implement recruitment strategies on a state, regional, and national level;
• Support the Conservatory’s commitment to artistic development and vocal health;
• Actively contribute to the Conservatory’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity;
• Actively contribute to curriculum discussions and a faculty community (both within and beyond the Conservatory) that is oriented towards collaboration, innovation, and inclusion; and
• Maintain a high profile in choral performance while being intensely engaged in Conservatory and University life.
• Service on school-wide committees and participation in meetings, auditions, and recruitment activities are expected.

Required Experience

QUALIFICATIONS

• An exceptional choral artist with professional accomplishments as a choral director at national or international levels;
• Knowledge of and passion for chamber choral repertoire;
• Demonstrated orientation towards collaborative work, with a passion for innovative programming;
• A strong understanding of choral cultures within intensive higher education communities;
• A forward orientation to music careers with demonstrated ability to thrive in the 21 st century marketplace by, for example, employing media (e.g., social media, YouTube, streaming services) to effectively build listeners/followers;
• Ability and interest to contribute to the Conservatory’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity;
• Eligibility to work in the United States; and
• Possession of a terminal degree or equivalent professional experience.

How to Apply:

Complete application submissions will include a letter of intent (in which candidates should describe their commitment to and engagement around inclusion, diversity, and equity), curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references. The cover letter should also include links to videos of the candidates teaching and conducting. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.

A pre-employment background check will be required. If the job requires driving for University business, a satisfactory driving record will also be required.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.

Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, or on any other basis protected under applicable law.

Salary Type
Not Applicable