Director of Wind Ensembles

TheNew England Conservatory, an independent not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz, and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Preparatory School and School of Continuing Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.

JOB SUMMARY:

NEC seeks a visionary leader to carry forward and innovate the tradition of excellence that has been a hallmark of NEC’s Wind Ensemble program for more than 50 years. Working closely with the Director of Orchestras, large ensemble administration, faculty, and staff, the Director will program, rehearse, and conduct approximately eight concerts per year. The Director will have broad knowledge of Wind ensemble repertoire, a demonstrable commitment to programming and performing new works and works for atypical instrumentations, an entrepreneurial ethos, and an innovative approach to pedagogy that binds theory and practice into an integrative whole. Committed to the highest standards of musicianship and possessing a keen understanding of the professional aspirations of conservatory students, the Director provides career guidance, mentorship, and connections to the field, helping to prepare NEC students for meaningful lives in music.

Responsibilities:

• Program, rehearse, and conduct approximately eight Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Wind programs per year

• Participate in season planning activities

• Attend wind, brass, and percussion seating auditions

• Ensure that opportunities for wind players are equitably distributed

• Teach introductory conducting courses

• Actively participate in recruiting, yielding, and retaining students

• Carry out essential administrative work, including placing students in ensembles in collaboration with the Director of Large Ensemble Administration

• Participate in required faculty trainings and departmental meetings

• Contribute to a learning environment that is responsive to the needs of students with varied identities and backgrounds

• Serve on faculty committees and participation in the life of the Conservatory

• Other responsibilities as requested

Search Process and Timeline:

• Review of applications begins on January 30, 2024

• Applicants must provide the following:

  • Cover letter/statement of interest

  • Statement of teaching philosophy

  • CV

  • Two representative sample concert programs

  • Video recordings of at least four different pieces in a range of styles

  • Names of three references

• Finalists will be chosen by faculty committee

• Finalists will be invited to campus for interviews with key stakeholders and to rehearse and conduct half a concert program on one of the following dates. Approximately five days of residency in Boston prior to the performance is required.

  • October 10, 2024

  • November 20, 2024

  • February 13, 2025

Qualifications:

• Significant, active conducting career with a strong record of accomplishment as an educator, wind ensemble director, and creative programmer.

• Master’s degree or commensurate experience strongly preferred, ideally with experience in teaching and administration in a high-level conservatory program

• Capacity to recruit, retain, teach, and mentor a diverse student body of the highest quality

• Knowledge of the current trends in conservatory wind ensemble programs and the profession

• Broad knowledge of Wind Ensemble repertoire across a range of genres and styles; a creative, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary approach

• Strong administrative ability to articulate and realize concrete measures for implementing an artistic vision

• Exceptional judgment, discretion, and integrity when working with students in an educational environment

• Demonstrated dedication to supporting the development of musicians and promoting music’s role in society

• Ability to represent the department effectively with external and internal constituencies

• Commitment to NEC’s values of cultural equity and belonging

Benefits:

• Generous paid time off including a combination of vacation, sick, personal, birthday and holidays.
• Benefits provided on day 1. Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance with options for a Health Reimbursement Account, a Health Savings Account and/or Flexible Healthcare and Dependent Care savings account. Additional benefits with health insurance election including virtual primary, medical convenience and behavioral health care, fitness and weight loss reimbursements and discounted bike share memberships
• Retirement plan with a 403b employer contribution of 5% with no vesting period
• Transit Benefits with 50% of approved costs covered up to $130 a month.
• Basic Life/AD&D insurance, Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability provided at no cost to employee with voluntary insurance offered for employee, spouse and children
• Free participation in NEC classes and ensembles as well as discounted individual lessons
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted YMCA membership
• Discounts on NEC cafeteria
• Free NEC concerts and library borrowing privileges
• Free access to some local museums and aquarium

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.