Director of Wind Ensembles

The New 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 elevate NEC’s Wind Ensemble program, which has had a rich history of excellence 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 six concerts per year, as well as other large ensembles as a guest conductor. 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 and careers in music.

Responsibilities:

• Program, rehearse, and conduct approximately six Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Wind programs per year
• Participate in season planning activities with faculty chairs, ensemble directors, and artistic administration
• Attend wind, brass, and percussion seating auditions with faculty
• Ensure that opportunities for wind players are equitably distributed, working closely with faculty in determining seating assignments
• 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 Performance and 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 backgrounds
• Serve on faculty committees and participation in the life of the Conservatory
• Other responsibilities as requested

Qualifications:

• Significant, active conducting career with a strong record of accomplishment as an educator, 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 and mission

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.

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