Assistant Professor in Composition and Theory, School of Music in the College of the Arts and Media

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page. Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com * .

The School of Music in the College of the Arts and Media (CAM) at the University of Montana (UM) invites qualified applicants for a full-time tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor in Composition and Theory beginning August 2023. The successful candidate will serve as Area Head of Composition and Theory. Responsibilities include teaching courses in applied composition, music technology, and related coursework, as well as supervising the music theory and aural perception course sequence. We seek a candidate eager to collaborate with music faculty in all areas to design an integrated music theory and musicianship curriculum.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD or DMA in Composition or a PhD in Composition/Theory
• Minimum 2 years of experience teaching applied composition and music technology to undergraduate and graduate students
• A diverse creative portfolio representing successful compositions and performances in classical, commercial, acoustic, electronic, and mixed-media genres
• Demonstrated success in interdisciplinary collaboration
• Experience in commercial music production and recording
• Experience teaching industry-standard technologies, including DAWs, music notation, audio recording software
• Familiarity with current best practices in composition and theory pedagogy at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• Experience teaching undergraduates of diverse musical preparation and backgrounds
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in film and/or video game scoring
• Scholarship or creative work in place-based or environmental music
• Experience in designing online/hybrid courses
• Creative or scholarly interest in adaptive and emerging technologies, such as AI or Virtual Learning

Position Details:

Tenure Track Faculty: The School of Music in the College of the Arts and Media

Title: Assistant Professor in Composition and Theory

Position Type: Academic, full time (1.0 FTE) during academic year (10-months)
Schedule: Full time academic year position beginning August 2023

Entry Rate: Salary commensurate with experiences and regionally competitive.

Benefits: Comprehensive and competitive benefits package including health and life insurance, mandatory retirement savings plan and an employee wellness program.

Primary Duties: Teaching, research scholarship, and service. Teaching responsibilities may include a combination of undergraduate, graduate, and studio classes, both in-person and online.

About the University of Montana, the School of Music and the College of the Arts and Media:

Serving music majors and minors as well as UM students and community musicians each year, the UM School of Music is a leader in music education, performance, and composition with national and internationally recognized faculty and award-winning students. Offering a full complement of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the School of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and is home to the All-Star Band, Choir & Orchestra, Grizzly Marching Band, Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival, Vienna Program, UM Summer Music Camps and more. The School of Music is part of the College of the Arts and Media at the University of Montana. https://www.umt.edu/news/college-of-the-arts-and-media.php

Our mission is to provide a comprehensive instructional program in music that develops strong teachers, performers, composers, critical thinkers, scholars, and entrepreneurs. We strive to set and maintain high standards of musical excellence for a broad and diverse community of constituents while simultaneously creating a path to successful careers in the modern economy. We value an interdisciplinary education and work to collaborate with other departments/schools on campus in the belief that such efforts will broaden our sphere of influence, resulting in promotion of the role of arts in academic, local, and statewide communities. We recognize a responsibility to be of service to the greater region by providing leadership and public service to students and teachers in schools as well as communities throughout Montana and beyond.



The University of Montana is a flagship, R1 research institution with a student enrollment of over 10,000. It is the state’s primary liberal arts and social sciences institution. Native Americans comprise the largest minority group on campus. Montana is home to seven reservations, 12 Tribal Nations, and multiple urban indigenous communities. Missoula is located on the traditional homelands of the Salish and Kalispell people and traditional territory to multiple Native American peoples. It is a thriving community representing the region’s cultural hub for visual and performing arts. It balances the warmth of small-town life with the sophistication and amenities of the urban northwest. Missoula and Montana offer stunning mountain scenery, blue ribbon trout streams, abundant wilderness, and thrilling recreational opportunities. Outside Magazine ranked Missoula among the top 10 best places to live in the U.S. in 2014 and one of the “Best Towns Ever” in 2017.

The University of Montana is an ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified individuals who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
• Video: Mission First, People Always
• UM on YouTube
• City of Missoula
• Video: There's This Place
• Destination Missoula
• Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce
• The State of Montana
• Visit Montana

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How To Apply:

Priority Application Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.

Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button. Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

*Please note, only five (5) attachments allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly. 5MB total limit on attachments.



A complete application Includes:

1. Cover letter addressing the candidate’s interest in the position and experience in the required and preferred job qualifications
2. Teaching philosophy addressing pedagogical approaches to teaching composition and music theory
3. DEI statement addressing ways you would prioritize and value diversity, equity and inclusion in this position
4. Current CV with links to representative compositions and recordings
5. Three (3) professional references with contact information

* Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application. Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above.

** Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

Job Location Missoula, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular