What is Shared Voices

Established September 2022 in Washington, D.C., Shared Voices is the flagship program of The Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF). This program is an unprecedented collaboration of sharing, learning, and exchange between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and top conservatories and schools of music in the United States. This initiative is designed to achieve belonging, accessibility, and justice across the musical spectrum. Through classes, individual lessons, coaching, rehearsals, performances, and peer-to-peer exchanges, participants have access to expand their cultural horizons, develop networks, and gain new insights into potential opportunities for a fulfilling career. These singers take ownership of their career trajectories in a classical vocal arts landscape, one that reflects the diverse world in which we live.

Shared Voices also engages faculty and administrators, opening a dialogue to examine curricula and make substantive changes across their course offerings to ensure that the complete history of classical music, including the accomplishments and music of underrepresented composers and performers, is shared with students. This results in a greater awareness of the diversity within the classical vocal arts and culminates in meaningful collaboration.

About the Foundation

The Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF) is focused on the intersection of social justice, American history, and the arts. Deeply inspired by the achievements of America’s hidden musical figures, the Foundation is invested in doing research and educating the public about their remarkable stories of courage and persistence. From enriching our musical heritage to preparing the diverse pool of tomorrow’s vocal stars, DGF positively impacts how artists are valued in this nation, encouraging inclusive opportunity, access, and advocacy for the next generation.

The mission of the Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF) is to promote equity and inclusion in American classical vocal arts through an unprecedented approach: championing the hidden musical figures of the past while uplifting today’s young artists of world-class talent from all backgrounds. This is achieved through collaboration and alliance with renowned chroniclers, presenters and educators in history and culture, including The Smithsonian Institution, The Metropolitan Opera, Library of Congress, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, as well as with some of America's elite Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Conservatories, and Schools of Music.

Salary Range- $48,000 to $52,000

(This is a Salaried, W-2 Employee)

Job Type: Part-time hybrid (remote and in-person events). The number of hours worked is expected to average approximately 20 hours per week. As a salaried employee, the Foundation recognizes 9 paid holidays throughout the year. For weeks in which there is a holiday, salary employees get paid their normal pay rate for the pay period. Additionally, Paid Time Off (PTO Days), health benefits, and a 401k/IRA plan are being developed and may be included in your benefits package very soon. Pre-approved business expenses shall be paid by the foundation.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES.

Beginning on the effective date of this Agreement, the Program Coordinator will provide the following services for the Foundation (collectively, to be referred to as the "Services")

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Executive Director, Coordinator serves as the lead administrator of the Shared Voices Program. The SV coordinator facilitates the daily administrative duties of the program, acting as a liaison between the institutional consortium members, partnering collaborators, and the DGF, ensuring that the program is on track to meet its goals and offerings. The coordinator will develop these goals in collaboration with the Executive Director for the Shared Voices program based on input from the Artistic Director and the sharing of experiences and resources between students/faculty at the HBCUs and conservatories. This includes a focus on each individual cohort member's journey, which may include one-on-one mentoring to the students by the founder, Denyce Graves, and both group and individual meetings with the SV Program Coordinator as needed. The coordinator in collaboration with the Artistic Director will facilitate and develop additional opportunities for the cohort members to hone their skills that may include individual classes with internationally renowned teachers and directors, as well as holistic training such as career planning, personal health, and being fiscally savvy. Led by the Program Coordinator, the DGF will strive to create opportunities to best fit where each singer currently is and how the DGF can help them to realize their goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Each of these duties and responsibilities will be executed with guidance from the Executive and Artistic Directors of the Foundation.

• Serve as the primary communication conduit for the Shared Voices cohort participants, third-party collaborators and DGF staff
• Champion all Shared Voices directives, expectations and outcomes.
• Continually define and oversee the program’s structure and goals, and effectively communicate them to the participants and stakeholders as needed.
• Evaluate Shared Voices program activities as well as student and administration engagement to accomplish Shared Voices consortia goals.
• Ensure available resources are utilized effectively within budget and program scope.
• Support grant-related endeavors in connection with Executive and Finance Directors, and grant writer.
• Maintain Shared Voices data and statistics for effective evaluation and assessment of program’s success, scope for growth and impact.
• Execute and coordinate institutional [students & administration] information flows and program processes with developed Foundation best practices.
• Provide hands-on engagement for all aspects of student, institution, collaborator, and Foundation participation in Shared Voices.
• Provide meaningful experiences for DGF Shared Voices cohort members and, when possible, alumni.
• Develop a multi-institutional network of HBCUs, music conservatories, and cultural institutions that fellows can access to develop careers in the arts.
• Bring about a new Shared Voices student cohort for the 2025-26 season, working with the Executive Director and Denyce Graves.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Foundation maintains the right to establish timelines and set deliverables for the Program Coordinator to perform services to the benefit of the Foundation.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in music or music education, vocal performance, collaborative piano, vocal pedagogy.
• Previous experience in attending or working with HBCUs, conservatories or schools of Music.
• Passionate and knowledgeable about diverse musical genres, styles, and historical periods. Strong familiarity with the landscape of classical music.
• Passionate about American history, social justice and inclusion.
• Self-directed, action-oriented, entrepreneurial, and innovative in his/her approach
• Reliable, flexible, adaptable, and able to respond quickly to rapidly changing conditions.
• Superior organizational skills, with strong track record of success.
• Ability to manage several tasks at the same time and meet tight deadlines.
• Successful experience as a leader, mentor, and manager.
• Commitment to an open, diverse, and inclusive work environment, focused on cooperation and teamwork among the staff.
• Strong literacy in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Articulate and successful public speaker
• Person of high integrity and ethical standards who is energetic, enthusiastic, empathetic, and kind.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $48,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 15 – 25 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Choose your own hours

Education:

• Master's (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20035