Teaching Artist

Lyric Opera of Chicago•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lyric Unlimited (LU) is seeking Teaching Artists with professional vocal and teaching experience for school-based residencies in the 2026-27 school year. Employment will begin as early as August 2026. Lyric Unlimited collaborates with teachers to create custom residencies that fit each school's unique circumstances and characteristics. Teachers and teaching artists work together to plan and deliver activities and projects in which students study music, drama, and other arts disciplines while thinking creatively and expressing themselves through performance. Most programs culminate in a live presentation of student work; some may include student trips to the Lyric Opera House. For each residency, the partnership between the teacher and Lyric teaching artist is fortified through a professional development workshop. Teaching Artists will engage in one or more of the residency programs outlined below, based on interest and level of teaching experience. All residency activities occur during regular school-day hours of operation. This position functions primarily on school campuses, with occasional events and meetings at the Lyric Opera administrative offices at the Civic Opera Building. Teaching Artists are contracted as part-time seasonal employees of Lyric Opera of Chicago. Pay rates are hourly and vary based on the program's delivery type.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in vocal performance, theatre, music education, or related field.
Knowledge of opera and passion for singing.
Vocal performance experiences in opera, musical theater, or educational settings.
Experience working with groups of children in diverse educational settings preferably with K-8.
Experience developing and delivering lesson and/or rehearsal plans.
Ability to solve problems with creativity and flexibility.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Comfortable communicating with school teachers and administrators.
Comfortable teaching in any Chicago neighborhood.
Must have access to reliable transportation for travel to/from schools.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Create and deliver a customized curriculum that achieves Lyric’s Residency learning goals.
Develop learning activities in one or more arts disciplines: music, drama, movement, and creative writing.
Create and deliver customized classroom lesson plans for each session.
Collaborate with classroom teachers to tailor the instructional unit and develop strong partnerships.
Communicate regularly with teachers throughout the program to plan and assess program effectiveness.
Produce a fully-staged final presentation to display student work.
Collaborate with piano accompanists to rehearse musical selections before the final presentation.
Participate in professional development workshops for teaching artists and classroom teachers.
Continually assess the progress of program participants through formal and informal assessment strategies.
Attend final dress rehearsals at the Lyric Opera House with participating schools (if applicable).
Communicate regularly with the LU Learning Programs staff.
Additional one-off opportunities may include: external professional development, content creation and presentation of the opera season’s educational materials, school appearances, and additional support at Lyric Unlimited events.