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.

• 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

• The Choral Conductor will:
• 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…