Assistant Professor of Music: Director of Choral Activities/Choral Music Education

The Department of Music and the Music Education Program at Lake Forest College seeks a dynamic choral music education professional for a tenure-track appointment in a highly successful, robust, and diverse music program, starting in Fall 2026. Responsibilities include leading the choral program (including repertoire selection/programming), conducting rehearsals/concerts, teaching vocal technique, managing student ensembles, leading biennial tours, and promoting music education initiatives with the College and local community, including collaborating with other faculty. The successful candidate will have a strong background in choral music education with a documented record of outstanding teaching and conducting choral ensembles. We seek an innovative conductor-teacher with a demonstrated commitment to student access and success and working with diverse students. The successful candidate will also provide support to the department’s core undergraduate music and choral/general music education courses (based upon the candidate’s expertise), building and maintaining relationships with K-12 music programs and teachers, developing and expanding the choirs, and recruiting new and diverse students to the choirs, department, and College. Other responsibilities include advising and mentoring music and music education students, both on campus and through clinical supervision. Candidates should possess a high potential/record for scholarly and/or creative achievement, as exemplified by presentations, publications, and choral conducting experiences.

Required Qualifications:

The successful candidate will complement the strengths of our current faculty and will have:

• An earned terminal degree in music or music education (Ph.D. or DMA) or related field. (ABD is acceptable if the degree is conferred prior to the start of the 2026-27 academic year.)
• A robust background in choral conducting and rehearsal facilitation.
• Demonstrated experience working with choral music teacher education and pre-service music educators.
• Strong teaching experience or potential at the post-secondary level.
• Demonstrated or strong potential for scholarly and/or creative productivity, as evidenced by peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, and/or evidence of performance/conducting experience highlighting creative programming.
• Interest in working on K-12 partnerships in a variety of school districts.

Preferred Qualifications/Background:

• Three or more years of successful teaching experience in K – 12th grade focused on choral conducting and/or elementary general music.
• Understanding and/or experience with/in liberal arts college education.
• Background in a specialized area of music which could include technology, psychology, culturally relevant pedagogy, and/or access.

To apply, please send the following materials to: musicsearch@lakeforest.edu

• A cover letter highlighting your interest in this position.
• A current CV.
• A teaching/rehearsing belief statement highlighting your ability to work with a variety of students, and your interest in working at a liberal arts college.
• A link to a 5-10-minute video uploaded to YouTube of you rehearsing a choir.

Letters of recommendation will be requested from those selected for first-round interviews. All materials are due by October 1, 2025.

Lake Forest College offers comprehensive and competitive pay and benefits to attract and retain talented individuals to further our mission. The salary range for this position is $67,000 - $70,000 and our benefits can be found at Employee Benefits | Lake Forest College.

A highly selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest College enrolls approximately 1,800 students from more than 40 states and from more than 100 countries. Lake Forest is one of the most diverse small colleges in the Midwest with approximately 50% of our student body comprised of domestic students of color and international students. At Lake Forest College, the quality of a faculty member’s teaching is the most important criterion for evaluation. The College also expects peer-reviewed publications and active participation in the College community.

If you are interested in learning more about employment at Lake Forest College, please visit Working at Lake Forest | Lake Forest College.