YOLA at HOLA, Symphony Orchestra Conductor

Los Angeles Philharmonic Association•Los Angeles, CA

119d

About The Position

The Site Conductor is a part-time position responsible for the artistic quality and education of assigned YOLA ensembles. The conductor leads rehearsals and guides pedagogy for orchestras at an individual YOLA program site, while collaborating with a cross-site artistic leadership team to support the long-term musical and social growth of YOLA musicians. The position reports to the YOLA Artistic Administrator and collaborates with the YOLA Site Program Manager. The conductor reflects partner organizations’ missions and values and implements YOLA’s curriculum and pedagogy practices. The position requires up to approximately 10–15 hours per week. Conductors lead youth orchestra rehearsals during the September–May season and July summer session, as well as additional rehearsals for concerts and special events. Rehearsals develop musical knowledge, instrumental and orchestral technique, and musicians’ socio-emotional growth. The conductor also works with teaching artists, site staff, families, students, LA Phil staff, and community partners on instruction, repertoire, curriculum, assessment, recruitment, and site activities.

Requirements

Extensive experience as a music educator and conductor working with youth orchestras at all levels.
Strong understanding of youth orchestra repertoire, beginning instrumental curriculum, teaching artist pedagogy, and youth development practices.
Ability to communicate effectively with communities, partner organizations, teaching artists, students, parents, and other constituent groups.
Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, empathy, and a proactive approach.
Ability to work under frequent observation.
Experience working with children from diverse backgrounds and in under-resourced communities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, reorganize work swiftly, and complete tasks within established time frames.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
Ability to work independently and proactively identify effective methods of operation.
Ability to work weekends and evenings.
Commitment to engage in and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion among staff and vendors and in interactions with the surrounding community.

Nice To Haves

Ability to arrange music and simplify orchestral parts.
Four-year undergraduate degree focused on music performance or music theory, or equivalent experience.
Fluency in a secondary language.
Experience as a motivational mentor and support for students, parents, and teaching artists.

Responsibilities

Lead youth orchestras in multiple weekly rehearsals from September through May, during the July summer session, and as needed for concerts and special events.
Plan rehearsals to build musical knowledge, understanding, instrumental and orchestral technique, and socio-emotional growth.
Reinforce concert etiquette and standard performance practices, maintain high musicianship standards, and communicate expectations to students and parents.
Select repertoire appropriate to each orchestra’s performance level, instrumentation, and pedagogy in collaboration with LA Phil artistic direction and site teaching artists.
Follow the YOLA curriculum and its practices in culturally responsive teaching, creative youth development, and artistic development.
Develop rehearsal schedules and lesson plans to share with collaborating teaching artists and site staff, aligning instructional goals across classes and ensembles.
Coordinate with YOLA Ensemble Librarians on purchasing, renting, bowing, and marking performance materials and scores.
Collaborate with Learning and YOLA staff on formative and formal assessment of musicians’ and ensembles’ musical and social development.
Collaborate with Learning and YOLA staff to develop and implement recruitment for the YOLA site.
Create, implement, document, revise, and maintain curriculum informed by youth development best practices and YOLA curriculum and pedagogy.
Attend meetings related to assigned events and projects, communicate scheduling conflicts, and prepare for meetings that cannot be attended.
Attend teaching artist professional development sessions and regularly visit group lessons to maintain pedagogical alignment.
Participate in professional development related to curriculum, curriculum evaluation, and assessment.
Participate actively in the Learning team and engage with events for the YOLA site.
Communicate with students and parents before, after, and during rehearsal breaks.
Maintain confidentiality and use sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive situations.