Assistant/Associate Professor of Music (Choral Conducting/Director of Choral Activities) (T/TE)

The University of Arizona•Tucson, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Arizona School of Music invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant or tenured Associate Professor of Music who will serve as Director of Choral Activities. The successful candidate will be an artist and educator with excellence in choral conducting, teaching, and scholarship; leadership or administrative coordination experience in a choral program; and the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty and staff. The role includes recruiting and teaching undergraduate and graduate students, maintaining an active national profile as a conductor, scholar, and pedagogue, and carrying out related duties assigned by the Director of the School of Music. The Director of Choral Activities is an artistic, pedagogical, and administrative leader within the School of Music. The position conducts the Symphonic Choir, the School’s premier choral ensemble, and supervises the graduate choral conducting program. Responsibilities include graduate instruction in choral conducting and literature, weekly individual lessons for MM and DMA conducting students, and a weekly seminar for the conducting studio. The director mentors students through degree completion and supports their professional preparation and placement. The successful candidate will provide collaborative leadership for programming, recruitment, outreach, and program development; build relationships with school choral directors, community ensembles, and other partners; and collaborate with voice faculty and colleagues across the School of Music. The role also involves developing programming and educational experiences that engage varied musical traditions and connect with the university, local communities, and the broader profession. The University of Arizona is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and values inclusive teaching and mentoring, student success, and engagement with diverse students and communities, including Hispanic/Latino communities where applicable. The School of Music is an NASM-accredited comprehensive music program with approximately 60 faculty members, 300 undergraduate music majors, and 130 master’s and doctoral students. The school has multiple performance spaces, a recording studio, and a Yamaha digital keyboard lab, and is an all-Steinway School. The position is based at the Tucson campus. Visa sponsorship is unavailable. The appointment is full-time at 1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week, with full benefits. Compensation is salary, with rate determined by experience (DOE).

Requirements

Earned doctoral degree.
Evidence of artistic excellence in choral conducting and effective rehearsal instruction.
Evidence of effective teaching and mentorship, with readiness to provide graduate instruction in conducting and choral literature.
Experience providing leadership or administrative coordination within a choral program or organization, with evidence of productive collaboration.
Evidence of effective recruitment and mentorship practices that support artistic growth, educational advancement, and professional preparation.
Evidence of effective teaching or mentoring of participants from underrepresented backgrounds, supported by specific examples of practices and outcomes.
Evidence of creative achievement and scholarly inquiry with a clear trajectory toward national recognition.
Readiness to guide graduate research and undertake university examination, advising, and program administration responsibilities.
A student-centered approach to teaching, mentorship, and program leadership that supports student success, belonging, retention, degree completion, and/or professional development.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success recruiting and developing singers or conductors from varied musical, educational, and cultural backgrounds, with evidence of artistic achievement, educational advancement, sustained participation, or professional preparation.
Experience providing advanced conducting instruction, teaching choral literature, or mentoring research through courses, individual instruction, workshops, master classes, or other structured educational settings.
Experience developing, assessing, and refining teaching or mentoring practices that support participants from underrepresented backgrounds, including Hispanic/Latino participants where applicable.
Experience coordinating comprehensive choral programming, recruitment, outreach, and resources in collaboration with artistic or educational colleagues.
Experience conducting instrumental ensembles in choral-orchestral repertoire or interdisciplinary performance projects.
Evidence of emerging national recognition through invited conducting or teaching engagements, performances, publications, or other relevant professional accomplishments.
Active contributions to professional organizations, networks, or collaborative initiatives advancing choral performance and education, such as ACDA, NCCO, or NAfME.

Responsibilities

Conduct the Symphonic Choir, fostering artistic distinction, healthy vocal production, and a challenging yet supportive rehearsal environment.
Teach graduate courses in choral conducting and choral literature.
Provide weekly individual instruction for MM and DMA conducting students and lead a weekly seminar for the conducting studio.
Supervise the graduate choral conducting program, including qualifying, comprehensive, and dissertation examinations.
Mentor graduate students through degree completion and support their professional preparation and placement.
Provide artistic and administrative leadership for the choral program in collaboration with other choral faculty, including shared priorities for programming, recruitment, outreach, and program development.
Recruit undergraduate and graduate students and cultivate sustained relationships with local and regional school choral directors, community ensembles, and other educational and artistic partners.
Collaborate with applied voice faculty and School of Music colleagues to support students’ vocal development, coordinate performance commitments, and create interdisciplinary opportunities.
Develop programming and educational experiences that engage a broad range of musical traditions and connect with the university, local communities, and the broader profession.
Develop and maintain a national profile through conducting, creative activity, scholarship, and professional engagement.
Contribute service within the School of Music, College, and University, and perform other duties assigned by the Director.
Support student success through inclusive teaching and mentoring, recruitment and retention efforts, curriculum development, and engagement with students and musicians from historically underrepresented backgrounds.