Director of the Cincinnati Boychoir
The Director of the Cincinnati Boychoir is the principal artistic leader of the Cincinnati Boychoir, responsible for advancing a culture of musical excellence, healthy vocal development, and meaningful artistic experiences within a supportive community environment. Operating within the Boychoir’s parent–subsidiary relationship with the Cincinnati May Festival, the Director ensures that all Boychoir programming reflects the shared artistic standards and reputation of these legacy choral organizations.
The Director reports to the May Festival Associate Director of Choruses and works in close artistic partnership with the May Festival Director of Choruses, drawing on the expertise and resources of the May Festival’s artistic leadership to align pedagogy, repertoire, and performance practice across ensembles.
This role combines high-level artistic leadership with program oversight, singer development, and strong engagement with families and the broader arts community. The Director will advance the core values of the Boychoir, including community engagement, cultural appreciation, personal growth, and artistry.
Job Responsibilities:
Artistic Leadership
- Serve as the primary artistic leader for the Cincinnati Boychoir, establishing and maintaining high musical standards across ensembles.
- Develop and implement a cohesive artistic and pedagogical vision aligned with the Cincinnati May Festival.
- Select developmentally appropriate, musically substantive, and culturally inclusive[JH2] repertoire.
- Collaborate regularly with the May Festival Director of Choruses and Associate Director of Choruses to align artistic priorities and standards.
- Participate in shared artistic planning, including joint performances and cross-ensemble initiatives.
- Leverage May Festival artistic resources and partnerships to enhance Boychoir programming.
Ensemble Training & Singer Development
- Conduct Boychoir ensembles with a focus on tone production, musicianship, stylistic integrity, and ensemble discipline.
- Provide expert instruction in vocal technique for unchanged, changing, and changed voices.
- Implement and oversee [JH3] a sequential curriculum in music literacy and foundational musicianship.
- Establish clear pathways for singer progression and monitor vocal health.
Program & Organizational Leadership
- Plan and execute weekly, seasonal, and multi-year programming, in collaboration with May Festival artistic leaders.
- Maintain the Boychoir music library and performance materials.
- Oversee uniform standards and presentation.
- Support recruitment, retention, and the hiring of qualified instructional staff.
- Participate in staff and board meetings and represent the Boychoir publicly as needed.
- Support fundraising, stewardship, and community partnerships in collaboration with administrative leadership.
- Build strong relationships with singers, families, board members, and partner organizations.
- Support the mission, vision, and values of the Cincinnati Boychoir, the Cincinnati May Festival, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
- Other duties as assigned
Reports to: May Festival Associate Director of Choruses
Candidates will demonstrate extensive knowledge of choral music, particularly as it relates to young voices, developing voices, and tenor/bass voices, awareness of current trends and best practices in choral management, and a keen interest in collaboration.
The Director of the Boychoir will be a collaborative and dedicated leader with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. A people-oriented leader and persuasive communicator, they will be comfortable interacting with multiple constituencies and easily adapt to differing situations. Resourceful and flexible, they will possess excellent organizational and project management skills. They will demonstrate a commitment to advancing the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check.
Hours requirement: 20 – 25 hours per week
The Cincinnati Boychoir and Cincinnati May Festival receives administrative support through a shared services agreement with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO). As part of this application process, you may receive communications from CSO team members.
