Professor - Craig Jessop Endowed Chair for Choral Conducting & Community Engagement; Music Director, American Festival Chorus & Orchestra

Utah State University • Logan, UT

27d

About The Position

Utah State University’s Department of Music seeks an accomplished conductor, educator, and artistic leader to serve as the inaugural Craig Jessop Endowed Chair for Choral Conducting & Community Engagement and Music Director of the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra (AFCO). The position combines a faculty appointment leading the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program with artistic leadership of a community choral and orchestral organization. The successful candidate will provide academic leadership for graduate conducting education, contribute to the university’s teaching, scholarship, and service mission, and advance AFCO’s artistic excellence and community impact.

As a faculty member, the successful candidate will lead the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program; teach graduate and undergraduate courses; recruit, advise, mentor, and support students; supervise graduate conducting students; maintain scholarly, creative, and professional engagement; and contribute to curriculum, assessment, accreditation, planning, service, collaboration, partnerships, recruitment, outreach, and public engagement.

As AFCO Music Director and principal conductor, the successful candidate will shape the organization’s artistic vision and programs, prepare and conduct major choral-orchestral repertoire, recruit and retain volunteer singers and community musicians, and collaborate with artists, conductors, orchestras, arts organizations, and university leadership. The role also involves relationships with patrons, donors, alumni, sponsors, and community stakeholders, as well as audience development, community engagement, fundraising, and advocacy.

The appointment is in the Department of Music at Utah State University. The department serves approximately 250 music majors and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. AFCO, founded in 2008, is an auditioned ensemble of more than 200 singers and a 65-member professional orchestra. The advertised salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits.

Requirements

• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Choral Conducting or a related field; an equivalent record of exceptional professional achievement and national or international distinction may be considered in lieu of traditional academic credentials.
• At least five years of successful experience as a music director, artistic director, or conductor of collegiate, professional, community, church, or civic choral ensembles, with demonstrated success developing high-level ensembles.
• Demonstrated experience programming and conducting orchestras and major choral-orchestral repertoire.
• Experience teaching, administering, or coordinating choral conducting or a closely related field at the university level, including ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, rehearsal techniques, and related areas.
• Demonstrated success in student recruitment, mentoring, and retention.
• Evidence of effective community engagement and relationship building with arts organizations, schools, donors, alumni, and community stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Commitment to artistic excellence, student success, collaborative leadership, collegiality, and public engagement.
• Piano proficiency sufficient for teaching, rehearsal, score study, and conducting preparation.

Nice To Haves

• Vision for artistic leadership and program development.
• Passion for graduate conducting education and mentorship.
• Ability to inspire and lead students, professional musicians, and community volunteers.
• Commitment to building meaningful connections between Utah State University and the broader community.
• Appreciation for the partnership between Utah State University and the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra.
• Commitment to continuing and expanding a tradition of artistic excellence, educational opportunity, community engagement, and service.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program.
• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, rehearsal techniques, and related areas.
• Recruit, advise, mentor, and support the retention and professional development of graduate and undergraduate students.
• Supervise graduate conducting students and support their career preparation and professional placement.
• Maintain an active program of scholarly, creative, and professional engagement consistent with the expectations of a senior faculty member at a land-grant research university.
• Participate in curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and program planning.
• Contribute to departmental, college, and university service.
• Collaborate with faculty colleagues across the department, college, and university.
• Strengthen partnerships with community arts organizations and educational institutions throughout the region.
• Support recruitment, outreach, and public engagement initiatives that advance Utah State University’s mission.
• Serve as Music Director and principal conductor of the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra.
• Provide artistic leadership and vision for AFCO performances, programs, and initiatives.
• Program, prepare, rehearse, and conduct major choral-orchestral repertoire while sustaining AFCO’s artistic standards and reputation.
• Recruit, inspire, and retain volunteer singers and community musicians.
• Collaborate with guest artists, conductors, orchestras, arts organizations, and university leadership.
• Develop and maintain relationships with patrons, donors, alumni, sponsors, and community stakeholders in support of AFCO’s artistic and organizational goals.
• Contribute to audience development, community engagement, fundraising, and advocacy efforts consistent with AFCO’s mission.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits.
• Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment.
• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree