Director of Orchestras and Colburn Youth Philharmonic

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Director of Orchestras and Colburn Youth Philharmonic at Colburn will recruit, mentor, and oversee the full continuum of advanced Orchestral Ensembles in the Community School of Performing Arts and will also serve as the Director for Colburn’s NEW Youth Philharmonic as part of Colburn’s new Advanced Music Performance Program. This orchestral pedagogue will have exceptional conducting skills and knowledge of orchestral repertoire including new compositions and have demonstrated success in teaching high school students and beyond. The Director will be responsible for the implementation of an age-appropriate orchestral curriculum that focuses on high-quality repertoire, diverse music styles, musicianship skills, and engages and challenges orchestral students in a nurturing and inspiring environment at all levels. The successful candidate will be able to share their artistic vision and their passion and joy of orchestral playing to inspire teamwork and students’ musical understanding and educational growth through performances and collaborative initiatives.

The Director will work closely with the Dean and Provosts to establish strong relationships with Colburn’s string, brass, wind, and percussion faculty and students.

In addition to weekly rehearsals, the Director is responsible for additional duties related to the management of the ensembles including auditions, recruitment and placement, and outreach. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to grow programming and to bring entrepreneurial creativity and new performance opportunities into the fold.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership in establishing the artistic vision and long and short-term term goals for Colburn’s Orchestral Program.
• Direct, develop and oversee the sequential orchestra curricula for the Community School of Performing Arts.
• Oversee details pertaining to ensemble auditions, including selecting audition excerpts, and recruiting students into the program.

• Work closely with Community School faculty and staff to give support and guidance to students as needed.
• Select and program appropriate repertoire for ensemble rehearsals and performances.
• Coordinate with supporting departments to ensure timely and accurate logistics for all performances.
• Other related duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Advanced degree(s) in Orchestral Conducting, Music Education, or Instrumental Performance. Combined experience/education may be substituted for minimum education.
• Minimum of ten years’ related experience in orchestral conducting and working with youth orchestras.
• Desire to manage the Orchestral Program and bring creative thinking to an entrepreneurial environment within an academic setting is essential.
• Extensive knowledge of orchestral repertoire and pedagogy for youth orchestras.
• Ability and desire to network with faculty and those in the community to recruit students from the greater Los Angeles area.
• Demonstrated ability to work with remarkably diverse faculty, staff, and students.
• Ability to contribute to a positive, supportive team environment is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized.
• Knowledge of Spanish (spoken) a plus but not required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Physical:

Must be able to see, hear, feel, and use hands to type and grasp objects with fingers. Primarily sedentary with intermittent standing, walking, bending, and stooping; occasional light lifting and carrying of objects weighing 25 pounds or less; light to heavy repetitive use of hands, wrists and forearms while working on a computer.

Emotional:

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships involving interactions and communications personally, by phone and in writing with a variety of individuals and/or groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds on a regular, on-going basis; ability to concentrate on detailed tasks for extended periods of time and/or intermittently while attending to other responsibilities; ability to work effectively under pressure on multiple tasks concurrently while meeting established deadlines and changing priorities.

Working Conditions:

Primarily indoor office environment; frequent contact with and interruptions by individuals in person or by phone.

ABOUT THE COLBURN SCHOOL

The Colburn School is a world-renowned performing arts institution located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Its mission is to provide the highest quality performing arts education at all levels of development in music and dance, and to foster a vibrant community through a wide range of performances, events, and educational activities.

The Colburn School trains students, from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.

The academic units of the school provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education:

Conservatory of Music - The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.

The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.

The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers over 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.

The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from the pre-professional ballet program in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.

Center for Innovation and Community Impact was created to empower the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of innovative ideas. The Colburn School partners with 15 Los Angeles Unified School District schools, 13 of which receive Title I funding, to provide interactive and engaging concerts and instructional sessions to 5,000 students every year.

The Colburn School is currently constructing a transformational addition to our downtown Los Angeles campus, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry with acoustics by acclaimed Nagata Acoustics. This monumental project reflects a deep commitment to both the community and our students and will feature world-class performance venues and innovative learning spaces that foster collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships throughout the region.

COMPENSATION:

• This is a part-time, salaried non-exempt position. Onsite work is required on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
• The annual pay range is $20,000 - $30,000, commensurate with skills, experience, and demonstrated ability.

TO APPLY

Please submit the following documents through the Colburn School’s Careers portal at www.colburnschool.edu/careers:

• Cover letter
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• CV
• Video Sample of Conducting (email video sample to Susan Cook at scook@colburnschool.edu)