Visiting Instructor / Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Direction in Theatre Arts

Campus

OSU-Stillwater

Contact Name & Email

Prof. Lee Brasuell, lee.brasuell@okstate.edu

Work Schedule

TBD

Appointment Length

9 months or less

Hiring Range

Commensurate with education and experience

About this Position

Oklahoma State University's Department of Theatre seeks a dynamic and collaborative artist-educator to join our faculty as a Visiting Instructor/Assistant Professor of Music Direction, beginning August 2026.

This faculty member will play a vital role in the training and artistic development of students in our BFA Theatre Arts program, including emphases in Acting and Musical Theatre. We seek a candidate who is passionate about vocal pedagogy, music direction, collaborative performance, and student mentorship. The successful candidate will serve as the primary music director for departmental musicals while providing applied vocal instruction and musical support across the Musical Theatre curriculum.

This position will be housed within the Department of Theatre and will work closely with faculty, students, directors, and production personnel to support the artistic and educational mission of the program. The position carries responsibilities in teaching (65%) and music direction (35%).

Responsibilities:

• Teaching & Vocal Pedagogy: Provide high-quality instruction through applied voice lessons for students in the Theatre Arts. Vocal coaching constitutes a significant portion of the teaching assignment. Six applied one-hour voice lessons per week are equivalent to one 3-credit-hour course. Additional teaching responsibilities may include accompanying and supporting performance-based courses such as Musicianship for the Singing Actor, Acting for Music Theatre, Special Topics in Musical Theatre, and other assigned coursework. The normal workload is the equivalent of eight 3-credit-hour courses annually (4/4 teaching load).
• Music Direction & Performance Collaboration: Serve as Music Director for two departmental musicals, currently scheduled for one production each semester of the academic year. Responsibilities include musical preparation, rehearsals, vocal coaching, conducting or supervising musical performances as appropriate, and close collaboration with directors, choreographers, designers, and production staff. Music Direction for each production will be equivalent to teaching one 3-credit-hour course. Should additional musical productions be added to the season, adjustments to teaching load or compensation will be considered.
• Student Mentorship & Advisement: Guide and support undergraduate students in their artistic, academic, and professional development. Foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment that advances student growth in performance, musicianship, and collaborative artistry.

About the Department of Theatre

Oklahoma State University's Department of Theatre provides comprehensive professional training for emerging theatre artists through a curriculum that integrates performance, production, and scholarship. With an active production season and strong emphasis on experiential learning, the department offers students meaningful opportunities to develop as actors, musical theatre performers, designers, technicians, and arts leaders in a supportive and collaborative environment.

About OSU

With a 130-year history, Oklahoma State University is one of the nation's most comprehensive land-grant university systems. The OSU System has over 34,000 students, 7,400 employees, and campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Okmulgee. Exceptional strengths in the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as institutional strengths in engineering, agriculture, and business are distinguishing features of the University.

Stillwater is a growing community consistently winning awards for best places to live, most recently in Money Magazine. It is about a 1-hour drive from both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The addition of commercial air travel, wide availability of gigabit internet, and the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts enhance Stillwater’s vibrant culture. The cost of housing is roughly 80% of the national average.

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials:

• Cover Letter, including evidence of collaborative leadership and commitment to student success as defined above.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Contact information for three professional references.
• A Music Direction/Teaching Portfolio including links to video recordings of rehearsals, performances, conducting, collaborative piano work, music direction projects, teaching demonstrations, or vocal coaching examples (up to 15 minutes Maximum), as well as evidence of teaching effectiveness as defined above.
• Additional documentation that provides evidence of teaching, to include teaching philosophy, student evaluations, etc.

Required Qualifications

• A master's degree or terminal degree in Music Direction, Collaborative Piano, Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre, Conducting, Music Education, or a closely related field.
  (degree must be conferred on or before agreed upon start date)
• • Music Direction Expertise: Demonstrated experience serving as a music director, conductor, rehearsal pianist, collaborative pianist, vocal coach, or related professional role in musical theater and/or collegiate performance settings.
  • Teaching Effectiveness: Evidence of successful teaching, coaching, mentoring, and working with undergraduate students in a university, conservatory, or professional training environment.
  • Collaborative Leadership: Evidence of strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills that demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative artistic and academic environment.
  • Commitment to Student Success: A demonstrated commitment to mentorship, recruitment, and fostering student achievement both inside and outside the classroom.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Music Direction, Collaborative Piano, Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre, Conducting, Music Education, or a closely related field.