Send resume and references to:

Denise Leddon, Cantabella President, denise@cantabella.org

Eileen Chang, Artistic Director, eileen@cantabella.org

Electronic submittal preferred. Alternate submittal:

Denise Leddon, Cantabella President, P. O. Box 131, Pleasanton CA 94566

 

Application Process

1.    Please submit your resume and an introduction of who you are and why you’re applying. This introduction can be a written cover letter or a video introducing yourself—choose whatever media you feel will best introduce you to us.

2.    Selected candidates will be asked to submit supplemental materials (e.g., conducting videos, proposed repertoire) and interview virtually with the AD Search committee.

3.    A subset of candidates will be invited to audition in-person with the AD Search Committee and possibly CCC singers. You will lead warm-ups, rehearse a section of a piece, and have a short in-person conversation with the AD Search Committee.

4.    The AD Search Committee will conduct reference checks for the final candidates before making a job offer.

For more details about the CCC organization, please visit www.cantabella.org. We will review applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received before Jan. 31, 2022. Ideally, our new Artistic Director will start no later than July 1, 2022, but as early as March 1 of 2022 to work alongside our current AD in learning and acclimating to the culture of CCC.

Proudly Introducing Cantabella Children’s Chorus:

Cantabella Children’s Chorus (CCC) is an award-winning mixed voice chorus serving close to two hundred children and youth in the Livermore Tri-Valley of the San Francisco Bay Area. Its mission is to develop music literacy, healthy vocal technique, choral artistry through excellence in music education, exceptional choral productions, and collaborative cultural arts experiences to enrich our diverse community.  Under the leadership of our current Artistic Director, Eileen Chang, CCC has participated in prestigious festivals and competitions, such as: ACDA Regional Conference,  World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Kathawmixw Choral Festival in Canada, Golden Gate International Choral Festival,  PicFest, and Sing A Mile High.

In the summer of 2019, CCC was invited to the 2019 World Youth Choral Festival and Competition (WYCF) in the beautiful Jeju Island of South Korea. Cantabella won Gold medals for both Sacred and Secular Categories and proudly came back home with the Grand Prix.

We are in a unique position of hiring a new Artistic Director (AD) while restarting in-person rehearsals and performances after more than a year of off-site zoom rehearsals due to COVID-19. We see this as an exciting opportunity to start afresh, dream big and grow in quantity as well as quality.

  

Looking Forward to Meeting You - Our New Artistic Director-

●      Who is as passionate as we are in striving to be the best children’s chorus in the Tri-Valley Area, as well as in nurturing “beautiful children” by means of “beautiful singing”! 

●      Who believes as we do that the rehearsal process should balance musical excellence with a supportive and enjoyable learning experience.

●      Who is skillful and creative in teaching traditional classical choral repertoire as well as in introducing new choral works and composers to our singers and audience.

●      Who is a team player and willing to work in collaboration with all the artistic staff, administrative staff and the Board of Directors to preserve and promote the vision and mission of CCC.

 

We hope you find joy in performing the following responsibilities

Artistic Responsibilities | MUSIC

●      Plan for and oversee the successes of 2 major concerts a year: the annual holiday concert and a spring concert.

●      Choose and/or approve Choral Repertoire and Programs for the concerts for all CCC choirs (performing choirs, training choirs).      

●      Plan and lead approximately 33-36 weekly rehearsals for 2 of the 3 performing choirs, from the end of August through the end of May, and conduct their performances. Currently the rehearsals are 2.5 hours for the Honors Choir, and 2.0 hours for the Chamber Choir. 

●      Plan for smaller concert performances at local corporate, civic functions and churches, using select choirs from CCC. Outreach may also be planned in collaboration with other musical organizations within the community.

●      Research and recommend international travel every other year for Cantabella performing choirs to participate in summer choral festivals /competition. Domestic travel for alternate years.

●      Plan and schedule summer workshops and camps as needed.

●      Manage Musical Staff and Guest Musicians. You will recruit and hire all musical staff, set pay and duties of each staff in collaboration with the Board. These positions have historically included associate directors for the training choirs, and any performing choirs you are not directing, music theory instructors, vocal coaches, accompanists, guest instrumentalists for concerts.

Artistic Responsibilities | MEMBERSHIP

●      Community building. Choristers return to CCC every season in large part because of the strong community ties that have developed over the years. As the leader of CCC, you will take an active role in setting the tone for the kind of community we are known for: nondiscriminatory, supportive, respectful and always striving for excellence.

●      Audition Members. Plan and run auditions at the beginning of each season, and as you deem necessary.

Administrative Responsibilities

As the AD, your primary work will be focused on music. But you, along with the Board, will also be involved in many of the administrative aspects of keeping CCC running smoothly:

●      Budget Planning. Work with the CCC Board to plan the organization-wide budget for each season and work to stay within the planned budget.

●      Marketing & Media. Work with the CCC Board to plan advertising and marketing strategies for individual concerts and CCC’s overall enrollment. Provide guidance and content for the CCC’s online presence.

 

Please apply if you possess the following qualifications:

●      A minimum of MA degree in Music related to Vocal/Choral education. 

●      Choral Conducting skills and experience required.

●      Familiarity with choral repertoire, solid vocal technique/vocal pedagogy skills, and demonstration of commitment to choral excellence.

●      Kodaly training preferred but not required.

●      Minimum of 3 years of experience working with Children/Youth choirs.

●      Dynamic, energetic and friendly personality is a plus.

 

Note: Our job descriptions are ideal and general expectation, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to succeed in this role as AD, we would love to hear from you!

 

Compensation is negotiable and commensurate with applicant’s experience and qualifications.

 

Job Information

·     Location: Livermore Tri-Valley in SF Bay Area, CA

·     Position Title: Artistic Director

·     Company Name: Cantabella Children’s Chorus

·     Job Function: Artistic Director

·     Job Type: Part-Time

·     Job Duration: Indefinite

·     Required Travel: Minimal

·     Salary: negotiable