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SalaryThe New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School (NEC Prep) seeks an experienced and enthusiastic music educator and conductor to serve as its Director of Orchestras beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. The Director of Orchestras (DO) provides artistic leadership for large instrumental ensembles at NEC Prep and oversees the training and artistic development of all orchestra students. The DO is charged with maintaining the standard of excellence among the conducting staff through interaction, evaluation, example, curricula and artistic leadership. The Director of Orchestras is an ambassador to the greater community including professional musicians, private instrument instructors, public and private school music teachers, and prospective students.
JOB SUMMARY
This position reports to the Director ofPreparatory School, collaborates with the Expanded Education department staff, and works closely with peer conductors and faculty at NEC Prep. The DO helps develop and execute a recruitment program, acts as liaison with school music programs and private music teachers, and represents NEC Prep in the musical community. As artistic advisor of NEC Prep, the DO regularly attends faculty and staff meetings, participates in faculty searches, and committee meetings where artistic input and expertise are needed. The DO carries out all required duties in a manner consistent with the policies, procedures, goals and objectives established by NEC Prep.
About the NEC Preparatory School and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
NEC Prep is a unique musical community for youth housed within the New England Conservatory. Over 1,400 students of all musical levels from ages 4 to 21 are welcomed to receive training and support in their musical endeavors. A wide range of offerings are available in early childhood music, private lessons, chamber music, large ensembles, and musical studies in classical, jazz, and contemporary styles.
Founded in 1962, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) is the senior-most of New England Conservatory Preparatory School’s nine orchestras. It is composed of approximately 85 gifted young musicians between the ages of 14–21, who are selected through a competitive audition process each year. YPO tours biannually with trips that span all corners of the globe, most recently YPO embarked on a ten-day tour to Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest in June 2019. The orchestra is slated to resume touring in 2025 in celebration of the Preparatory School’s 75th Anniversary. Some Recent repertoire has included Beethoven’s and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphonies, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, and works by contemporary composers Valerie Coleman and Jennifer Higdon.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
As Director of Orchestras:
- Act as a partner with the Prep Director in co-leading the financial, pedagogical, and artistic success of large instrumental ensembles at NEC Prep by developing an educational program that matches the financial goals of the institution.
- Help coordinate and participate in faculty and faculty/staff meetings. Spend one half-day per week in the office to proactively address issues and work with staff directly and network with stakeholder groups. Meet weekly with the Prep Director around issues of importance to the institution.
- Develop curricula for ensemble workshops, Summer Orchestra Institute (SOI), and annual large ensemble retreat that reflects the institution’s mission and values.
- Establish relationships with community organizations to foster recognition of NEC Prep, identify performance opportunities for large ensembles, and encourage fundraising. Plan and interface with musical partner organizations.
- Help in planning recruitment efforts to ensure the robust participation in all large instrumental ensembles. Assist the NEC Prep staff in developing a network of local music teachers who play an active role in recruiting and retaining students.
- Observe a minimum of four rehearsals of each ensemble in one season and attend all large ensemble concerts. Provide individual feedback to peer conductors annually based on observed rehearsals and concerts, and select and manage coaches and guest conductors.
- Evaluate appropriateness of repertoire selections made by NEC Prep conductors and communicate ideas and suggestions as necessary to ensure curriculum success.
- Provide input and artistic guidance on the guidelines and structure for NEC Prep Concerto Competitions.
- Collaborating with other conductors to be in the know of the level of all students, especially around seating auditions.
- Write recommendations upon request of NEC Prep students.
As Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) Conductor:
- Conduct approximately 30 weekly Saturday afternoon YPO rehearsals from September through May.
- Program and conduct at least three YPO concerts per year, plus additional performances if scheduled. All concerts, and additional concerts, will be scheduled and organized in consultation with the NEC Prep Director.
- Lead YPO in biannual international tour. Assist staff with choosing travel destinations, plan tour repertoire, and select soloists if needed in consultation with the NEC Prep Director. Conduct all pre-tour rehearsals, a preview concert, and all tour concerts.
- In consultation with the NEC Prep Director, approve and confirm arrangements with guest artists and conductors.
- Develop musical standards for students through the appropriate selection of repertoire, sectional coachings, and interaction with professional musicians and other innovative programming.
- Select the repertoire for YPO in consultation with the Prep Office to ensure a quality performance in the assigned number of rehearsals for each concert. This includes determining and meeting deadlines for programming and scheduling of rehearsals and sectionals.
- Work with the Large Ensemble Manager to prepare all string parts including bowings and fingerings, and prepare woodwinds, brass and percussion parts with measure numbers and phrase markings.
- Collaborate with the Preparatory School staff on all aspects of concert production including music acquisition and preparation, rehearsal and sectionals scheduling, and stage considerations.
- Participate in annual auditions, evaluating the skills and techniques of NEC Prep applicants and advise faculty on audition requirements. Make the final determination of applicants to be accepted and their placement within YPO. For other large ensembles, in consultation with other conductors.
- Offer seating assignment input to the conductors of the other Prep orchestras.
- Facilitate communication and relationships with and among the YPO musicians to ensure a positive environment. In collaboration with the Prep Office, resolve disciplinary issues as needed.
- Support the work of the Large Ensemble Managers in a timely and considerate manner.
- Plan and lead rehearsals and performances at the annual Summer Orchestra Institute program each July.
Weekly Hours
Approximately 35 hours weekly will be expected to fulfill the position. Living in the Greater Boston region is mandatory. This will be a balance of off-site preparation time, on-site rehearsals and observations, and flexible hybrid office hours.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Music or Music Education is required. Preference given to those with an advanced degree in Orchestral Conducting and/or orchestral conducting experience.
- Knowledge of a wide range of orchestral repertoire and discernment to select programs that foster the growth of young musicians.
- A demonstrated understanding of the needs of high-performing youth instrumentalists and the ability to teach and inspire them to achieve the highest standards of musical excellence.
- A demonstrated commitment to advancing cultural equity and belonging, creative activity, and professional service.
Hiring Process
- Submit a cover letter stating your teaching philosophy and addressing your qualifications, interest, and desire to work with youth orchestras.
- Submit a resume presenting your skills and qualifications for the position.
- Submit a minimum of three professional references with contact information.
- Submit recent conducting videos via video links up to a maximum of 60 minutes. Please include both rehearsals and performances, and indicate the dates on which they occurred.
- Final candidates will need to be available to travel to Boston for a live audition with the YPO on April 28, 2024
NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
Annual Clery Report
In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.
