LEVEL III DIRECTOR

Reporting to the San Francisco Girls Chorus’ Director of Voice Studies and Chorus School Pedagogy, the Level III Director is responsible for teaching and preparing repertoire for Level III of SFGC’s Chorus School.

The Chorus School, which annually serves more than 350 girls and young women, ages 5 to 18, from the greater Bay Area, provides a comprehensive music education that begins with a Prep program for choristers ages 4 – 7, and continues through four levels of progressively challenging training. Upon graduation from the Chorus School at the end of Level IV, singers are eligible to audition for SFGC’s GRAMMY Award-winning Premier Ensemble, led by Artistic Director, Valérie Sainte-Agathe.

Level III rehearsals take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in San Francisco, and on Wednesday and Friday afternoons in Berkeley. This is a part-time (20 hours per week) position.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       Select, teach and conduct a variety of choral repertoire, implement curriculum and set goals for singers in Level III (typically ages 8-12) of the SFGC Chorus School; repertoire should be balanced to provide a variety of choral repertoire from various periods of music history, including contemporary and commissioned works; all repertoire is reviewed by the Music Director prior to final selection

·       Teach and model healthy vocal technique, including breath support and appropriate singing posture

·       Coordinate voice teaching with the SFGC Director of Vocal Studies, integrating ensemble and solo repertoire in warm-ups and other vocal coaching sessions

·       Integrate music theory and sight singing curricula into the regular rehearsal schedule, working collaboratively with SFGC’s Music Theory and Sight Singing instructors

·       Provide opportunities for choristers to explore the dramatic elements of repertoire, and develop their physicality and expressivity in performance, in partnership with SFGC’s dramaturg and movement coaches

·       Select and/or provide choristers for collaborations with other arts organizations; teach and prepare music for these collaborations, with guidance from the Music Director. Attend rehearsals and performances with choristers

·       Plan rehearsals and activities for Level III camps; attend and teach at the annual Day Camp and the week-long Away Camp in Healdsburg

·       Regularly communicate with choristers and families about Chorus School and Level III activities and schedules

·       Provide guidance to Chorus families about SFGC’s program expectations and responsibilities, including each chorister’s commitment to learning and attendance at all rehearsals and performances

·       Hold annual parent-chorister conferences to discuss musical growth and learning, as well as expectations for Chorus School Graduation

·       Update and maintain records of Level III choristers, including attendance, information on parent conferences and chorister progress

·       Prepare semi-annual Chorister Repertoire Evaluations and Progress Reports

·       Attend San Francisco and East Bay Chorus School auditions held throughout the year

·       Attend monthly faculty meetings, camp meetings, and other meetings relating to the Chorus School

·       Arrive at venue least 15 minutes before rehearsal and be prepared to stay 15 minutes after

OTHER

·       Directors may be asked to conduct other levels during special rehearsals or performances

·       Attend a one-hour, weekly meeting with the Artistic Director and other Level Directors on Tuesday afternoons

QUALIFICATIONS:

·       Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance or Music Education, with emphasis on vocal pedagogy and/or choral conducting; Master’s Degree preferred

·       Experience and passion for working with young singers

·       Understanding of and proficiency in vocal technique, especially for young female voices

·       Thorough knowledge of classical and concert music repertoire

POSITION:

The Level III Director is a 20-hours per week, 38 weeks per year, nonexempt position. Additional hours will be granted only with the advance approval of the Director of Voice Studies and Chorus School Pedagogy. Included in weekly work hours are the following activities: music prep time; administrative tasks; repertoire research; meetings with Artistic Director and Director of Voice Studies and Chorus School Pedagogy; faculty meetings; concerts and special performances; parent meetings; and auditions.

COMPENSATION:

Starting compensation will be $40 per hour. Compensation package includes employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending plan, optional 403(b) retirement plan, and paid time off.

TO APPLY:

Email brief cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references to Justin Montigne, Director of Voice Studies and Chorus School Pedagogy, at jmontigne@sfgirlschorus.org, by Friday, June 22, 2018. Include job title in subject line. Applications may also be mailed to: San Francisco Girls Chorus, 44 Page Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94102. No phone calls, please.

The San Francisco Girls Chorus is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.

About the San Francisco Girls Chorus

Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus is a renowned, industry-leading performing arts and music education organization that empowers young women through music. Under the musical leadership of Artistic Director Valérie Sainte-Agathe, SFGC enrolls nearly 300 choristers ages 5-18 from 45 cities and all 9 Bay Area counties each year. Served by a music faculty of 21 teaching artists and 7 administrators, the organization operates a professional-level performance, recording and touring ensemble; a four-level Chorus School training program; and a Preparatory Chorus.

SFGC collaborates annually with leading arts and cultural organizations including the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Film Festival, and the Kronos Quartet, among many others. The Chorus has performed at major national and international venues across the country, including the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. SFGC has also toured the world, performing in Japan, China, Korea, Germany, the Nordic countries, and Cuba. SFGC’s commitment to artistic excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including five GRAMMY Awards and four ASCAP/Chorus America Awards for Adventurous Programming.

SFGC owns and operates the Kanbar Performing Arts Center, a six-story hub for the arts in San Francisco’s Civic Center district that annually serves more than 30 arts organizations. SFGC’s current annual operating budget is $2.4 million.