Teaching Artist

Network(s)

Education & Community Engagement

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking, and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, company, and city.

Part-Time, Seasonal Contract

Create and deliver a customized curriculum that achieves Lyric’s Residency learning goals.

Develop learning activities in one or more arts disciplines: music, drama, movement, and creative writing.

Create and deliver customized classroom lesson plans for each session.

Collaborate with classroom teachers to tailor the instructional unit and develop strong partnerships.

Communicate regularly with teachers throughout the program to plan and assess program effectiveness.

Produce a fully-staged final presentation to display student work.

Collaborate with piano accompanists to rehearse musical selections before the final presentation.

Participate in professional development workshops for teaching artists and classroom teachers.

Continually assess the progress of program participants through formal and informal assessment strategies.

Attend final dress rehearsals at the Lyric Opera House with participating schools (if applicable).

Communicate regularly with the LU Learning Programs staff.

Additional one-off opportunities may include: external professional development, content creation and presentation of the opera season’s educational materials, school appearances, and additional support at Lyric Unlimited events.

This multi-disciplinary program empowers students in grades 1-5 to create and perform an original opera that integrates curricular content objectives with arts learning in music, theater, and movement.

Program Duration: 13 or 18 sessions (typically once a week).

Session Length: one full class period (50-60 minutes) for each participating class.

Engages students in grades 6–12 in an in-depth study of selected work. Students gain a rich understanding of the piece, its history and context, and important themes. Working in collaboration with the classroom teacher, the Teaching Artist guides students through a creative process to reinterpret select operatic scenes with their own words and music.

Program Duration: 4 sessions (typically once a week) plus one performance field trip to Lyric.

Session Length: one full class period (50-60 minutes) for each participating class.

This collaborative program is designed to support and enrich the music learning objectives of high school (grades 9-12) choir teachers by providing regular, year-round assistance from a Lyric professional teaching artist in the classroom.

Program Duration: 30 sessions (typically once a week) plus one performance field trip and Choral Fest on October 22, 2026.

Session Length: one full class period (45–60 minutes) for each participating class.

Bachelor's degree in vocal performance, theatre, music education, or related field.

Knowledge of opera and passion for singing.

Vocal performance experiences in opera, musical theater, or educational settings.

Experience working with groups of children in diverse educational settings preferably with K-8.

Experience developing and delivering lesson and/or rehearsal plans.

Ability to solve problems with creativity and flexibility.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Comfortable communicating with school teachers and administrators.

Comfortable teaching in any Chicago neighborhood.

Experience with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a plus.

Must have access to reliable transportation for travel to/from schools.

Ability to work in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet business needs.

Ability to perform essential functions of the job with or without accommodations.