Part-Time Training Division Chorus Conductor

Brooklyn Youth Chorus seeks collaborative and creative Part-Time Training Division Chorus Conductors with a background in children’s/youth choral education (pedagogy, curriculum, repertoire, and voice technique) to conduct weekly treble-voice training division classes and/or in school programs. Training division classes include Preparatory Division (7-9 year olds), Pre-Teen Division (10-12 year olds) and/or Teen Division (13-18 year olds) classes. The current search priority is for Conductors for our Preparatory and Pre-Teen Divisions. The training division conducting faculty works collaboratively to choose repertoire, plan rehearsals across sections, lead performances, and nurture a diverse student body. Brooklyn Youth Chorus utilizes a holistic, science-backed pedagogy called Cross-Choral Training® (CCT), developed by Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker. Conductors receive training on this pedagogy and the associated curriculum encompassing vocal, musicianship, and social-emotional components. Training division positions are seasonal (late August-May), with school-wide performances in December and May. Classes are held Monday - Friday (3:30-7:00pm) and Saturdays (10:00am-2:00pm). In-school program opportunities are on a project-basis and range from 6 to 24 weeks in duration in the September-June timeframe.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Conductors report to the Director of Choral Education with oversight by the Artistic Director. Conductors will also work closely with the Director of Program Operations, Program Manager, Rehearsal Managers, Conducting faculty, and program team.

ABOUT BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is an award-winning city-wide music education and vocal performance program for children ages 5-18 of all levels of experience.  As a collective of young singers and vocal ensembles, Brooklyn Youth Chorus is reimagining choral music performance through artistic innovation, collaboration, and an incredibly versatile range and repertoire. The Chorus’s multi-level training program draws students from across the five boroughs and combines intensive voice training and musicianship study with exceptional performance experiences. Brooklyn Youth Chorus believes every voice matters and is committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive community based on respect for each individual and an appreciation of our differences. To ensure access to all students, regardless of background or financial circumstances, the Chorus provides broad financial support for both chorus and elective music program tuition. Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker, Brooklyn Youth Chorus has served over 10,000 students over its thirty four-year history with hundreds enrolling each year in its after-school and public school outreach programs. Classes take place in Brooklyn at their Cobble Hill headquarters and on campuses in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Carroll Gardens, and Brooklyn Heights. www.brooklynyouthchorus.org

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program and Rehearsal Responsibilities

• Lead weekly training division rehearsals from September through May built on Founder & Artistic Director’s proprietary Cross-Choral Training pedagogy and the principles of Positive Youth Development (PYD).
• Collaboratively select developmentally- and artistically-appropriate repertoire and regularly co-plan with co-conductors of the same training division level.
• Work closely with the Director of Choral Education and Director of Program Operations to meet programmatic needs of the organization.

Performances

• Perform during annual winter (December) and spring (May) all-school concerts. Conducting duties may be shared with a co-conductor of different sections of the same class level. 

Auditions and Assessments

• Administer annual vocal assessments for all choristers enrolled in your classes.
• Provide chorister recruitment support by working with the Director of Program Operations to lead audition sessions, open houses, etc. throughout the year.
  
  

Program Administration, Training, Professional Development

• Work with the program team to communicate and support individual chorister progress, attendance, annual chorister assessments, parent outreach, and recruitment.  
• Participate in monthly conductor faculty meetings.
• Engage in annual training and professional development sessions both classroom-specific and institutional (Cross-Choral Training pedagogy).

QUALIFICATIONS

• Belief in the mission and core values of Brooklyn Youth Chorus
• An experienced music educator and choral conductor with a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience
• Training and experience with music teaching methods (Kodály, Dalcroze, Orff, etc.), philosophy, and pedagogy, with fluency in moveable do solfege and metric counting
• An understanding of vocal pedagogy and/or functional voice training specializing in children’s/adolescent voices
• Knowledge of and experience teaching and conducting a diverse choral repertoire
• Expertise in teaching music from a broad array of cultural traditions and/or deep knowledge in specific cultural heritages or musical traditions strongly preferred
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with a small faculty and team
• Flexibility to work some nights and weekends in addition to weekly teaching schedule
• Experience working with young people from diverse backgrounds 
• Willingness and ability to learn and implement Brooklyn Youth Chorus’ proprietary Cross-Choral TrainingⓇ pedagogy.
• Must hold a Bachelor's degree or higher or equivalent experience

COMPENSATION

Compensation ranges from $3,800-7,300 per class ($100/hour for teaching) depending on weekly rehearsal duration (60, 90, or 120 minutes) with additional compensation for professional development, training, running auditions, in school programs, additional artistic projects, et al. 

EQUITY & INCLUSION

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is committed to access, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas including artistic and education programs and recruitment of choristers, volunteers, staff, and its Board of Trustees.

We stand for absolute respect for each individual; an appreciation and understanding of the broad spectrum of all our differences be they cultural, racial, religious, socio-economic, or based on sexual identity, gender, physical or intellectual ability; and the ability to experience bonds of friendship through the joy of music. We celebrate open-mindedness and critical thinking, and seek to create opportunities for students to explore and embrace these important values together. We recognize that a diverse community is an asset that must be continually cared for, preserved, and enhanced, with constant attention, for the benefit of all its members.