Director of Music

About WHIN Music Community Charter School

Washington Heights and Inwood (WHIN) Music Community Charter School provides a diverse student population with rigorous academic instruction, intensive music education, and a positive learning environment so that every student can thrive academically and socio-emotionally.

Every WHIN student participates in both Orchestra and Choir every day in the El Sistema tradition. El Sistema is a unique social program that was founded in Venezuela to build community through excellence. The goal is to effect social change through intensive daily ensemble music education. Working in an ensemble enables all children to experience being an asset to their community and grow into citizen artists prepared to make the world a better place.

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Washington Heights and Inwood (WHIN) Music Community Charter School is actively seeking a passionate and visionary Director of Music who is deeply committed to enriching our vibrant school community through a performance-based, inclusive orchestral and choral music program. This critical role is designed for a leader who values compassion, kindness, and curiosity, and aims to integrate these principles into the fabric of our everyday learning environment.

The Director of Music position is pivotal to the growth and success of our school's unique music-infused educational model.

As the Director of Music, you will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director to shape and implement an innovative, school-wide El Sistema-based orchestral and vocal music curriculum that aligns with WHIN's mission and vision. Your leadership will extend to managing and mentoring a dedicated team of music educators, promoting student growth, and enhancing our educators' abilities to create a positive, engaging, and effective learning environment that supports the whole child through music.

Your responsibilities will be broad and impactful, including leading efforts to foster a culture of love for learning and inclusivity through music, coordinating performances and music events, and driving professional development initiatives that elevate teaching quality with a focus on pedagogical approaches that support music education. A significant part of your role will also involve promoting responsive classroom techniques within music instruction that encourage a supportive and engaging classroom environment, enabling students to thrive both musically and socially-emotionally.

You will champion a data-driven culture aimed at continuous improvement, implement and oversee student assessment systems in music, mentor instructional staff to foster pedagogical growth, and actively engage families and the broader community to support children's learning and school goals through music. Effective management of curriculum implementation, providing feedback on lesson plans with an eye toward enhancing music instruction, and supervising special music programs are also key components of this role.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leadership in music education, particularly in settings that prioritize performance-based, inclusive orchestral and choral programs, combined with outstanding academic qualifications and emotional intelligence. Experience with progressive educational practices that nurture the whole child through music, stimulate curiosity, and prepare students for real-world challenges is essential. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate integrity, courage, collaborative leadership, excellent communication skills, and a dedication to building consensus.

This full-time, year-round position is available to start immediately, depending on the selected candidate's availability.

Director of Music will be responsible for:

• Collaborating with the Executive Director to devise and implement a school-wide El Sistema-based orchestral and vocal music curriculum, ensuring alignment with WHIN's mission and vision.
• Leading the development and execution of grade-level scope and sequences for music, integrating responsive classroom practices to support a positive and inclusive learning…