ABOUT BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is an award-winning music education and vocal performance program for New York City children ages 7-18 of all levels of experience. Composed of training divisions leveled by age and ability and performing ensembles that participate in professional-level concerts and recordings, Brooklyn Youth Chorus is a collective of young singers and vocal ensembles that reimagine choral music performance through artistic innovation, collaboration, and an incredibly versatile range and repertoire. The Chorus draws students from across the five boroughs and combines intensive voice training and musicianship study with exceptional performance experiences. Children of diverse backgrounds come to the Chorus to share their love of singing, make new friends, and achieve and surpass their musical goals. Brooklyn Youth Chorus believes every voice matters and is committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive community based on respect for each individual and an appreciation of our differences. To ensure access for all students the Chorus provides broad financial support for both chorus and elective music program tuition. Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Dianne Berkun Menaker, Brooklyn Youth Chorus serves over 700 students in its core after-school and public school outreach programs. Classes take place at our Cobble Hill headquarters and neighborhood locations in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Cobble Hill, and Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn.

www.brooklynyouthchorus.org

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is seeking a full-time Director of Choral Education with a strong background in children’s/youth choral education (pedagogy, curriculum, repertoire and voice technique), leadership and management experience, strategic and analytic capabilities, and good verbal and written communication skills to lead Brooklyn Youth Chorus’s training divisions as a key partner to the Founder & Artistic Director. The Director of Choral Education will oversee existing and develop new curricular-based programming, attract and nurture a diverse student body and faculty, and serve as an integral member of the leadership team. 

Under the artistic vision of the Founder & Artistic Director, the Director of Choral Education will be responsible for developing a strategic vision and annual calendar for the training division programs and leading a team of full-time and part-time music faculty and arts administrators to execute that vision. This includes overseeing the artistic and pedagogical throughline from the training divisions to the performing ensembles, developing and deploying curriculum for the training divisions, building a strong calendar of activities to deepen learning for existing choristers and attract new singers, and building new and exciting community partnerships and performance opportunities.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Director of Choral Education reports to the Chief Operating Officer with artistic oversight by the Founder & Artistic Director and works in close collaboration with the Director of Development & Institutional Advancement and the Director of Marketing as a member of the senior management team. The Outreach and Public School Manager, School Administrator, and the conducting and electives faculty will report directly to the Director of Choral Education. The Director of Choral Education will also work closely with the rest of the program team including the Program Manager, Registrar, Chorus Managers, program assistants, and accompanists who report to the School Administrator.

The Director of Choral Education will:

Leadership & Strategic Planning:

• Serve as a member of the leadership team with the Founder & Artistic Director, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Development & Institutional Advancement, and Director of Marketing & Communications
• Collaborate with leadership team on institutional strategic planning
• Together with the Founder & Artistic director lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive strategy for the training divisions that supports the organization’s educational and artistic mission
• Provide reports to the Board of Trustees on program activities and partner with the Equity and Access Committee of the board to build a trusted group of skilled and experienced advisors to serve and support the Chorus’s program goals
• Identify, cultivate, and build strategic community partnerships and performance opportunities to support recruiting and performance objectives

Training Division Management

• Lead Brooklyn Youth Chorus’s training divisions, overseeing a dynamic music faculty and dedicated team of arts administrators to develop robust, curricular-based programming, attract and nurture a diverse student body and faculty, and train singers to progress from the training divisions to the performing ensembles
• Work from the vision of the Artistic Director to oversee all administrative and artistic aspects of the Training Division programs including the staffing of music faculty, setting schedules and curricular formats, and bringing in artistic guests
• Oversee the artistic and pedagogical throughline from the training divisions to the performing ensembles, developing and deploying leveled curriculum for the training divisions, 
• Manage the School Administrator and provide oversight for the operational aspects of the training division programs
• Collaborate with the Artistic Director, COO & School Administrator to create the yearly Performance and School Calendar including annual recruitment and outreach events designed to introduce prospective students to BYC’s program
• Design and execute community performances and social events to enrich the training division experience in line with curricular and performance goals 
• Work with COO to create annual departmental budget
• Coordinate with the Director of Marketing to ensure the training division’s artistic achievements and events are shared broadly using with appropriate branding and in service of the organization’s communications goals 
• Provide program-related support to Development staff with grant proposals and other giving initiatives

Education & Curriculum

• Train with Founder & Artistic Director to become proficient in her trademarked Cross-Choral Training pedagogy
• Lead the development, deployment, and annual review of the choral curriculum for all levels and school programs, with an artistic and educational through-line from entry-level training divisions to top performing ensembles and with attention to the creating and communicating an educational environment and curriculum that equitably supports a diverse student body
• Work with Conductors each semester to compile and select repertoire for all performance and educational activities that align with the curriculum
• Identify new elective course offerings and other program enhancements (guest artists and composers, master classes, professional mentorship opportunities for choristers, etc.)
• Prepare and lead annual vocal and written assessments (including progress reports, re-auditions, and promotions processes), analyze results, and communicate findings with level conductors and Artistic Director
• Collaborate with school administrator to lead annual audition cycle and placements

Conducting and Electives Faculty

• Lead and build a dynamic team of choral conductors for training division levels and school programs, offering ongoing supervision and mentorship 
• Observe conducting faculty rehearsals and performances, and provide feedback 
• Build conductor apprenticeship program to expand, develop and diversify our artistic staff, enabling us to serve a larger student body in culturally responsive ways
• Set yearly performance goals, in collaboration with the Artistic Director
• Lead monthly conductor faculty meetings and plan professional development
• Oversee and build the electives faculty (private lessons, group classes, etc.) to provide additional musical support to our choristers

College and Career Readiness

• Manage and develop initiatives to support financial-aid-eligible choristers as they prepare to transition to college and career
• Build established and create new fellowship and scholarship programs developed to provide support to financial-aid-eligible choristers
• Manage college readiness programming such as panels about applying to Performing Arts Middle Schools, High Schools, and Colleges/Conservatories, Financial Aid information, and other important considerations for choosing Colleges/Conservatories  

Artistic

• Work with Artistic Director to develop and implement new artistic programs
• Lead the selection and oversee preparation of students to participate in contract performances and special events as directed by the Artistic Director
• Assist in conducting rehearsals (ensembles or training divisions) or performances as needed 
• Together with the Founder & Artistic Director expand and oversee the annual composer competition

APPLICATION

Please send a resume, cover letter, two performance videos (with you conducting), and one classroom teaching video (if possible) to resume@brooklynyouthchorus.org. Please be sure to detail your pedagogical training in your application. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. Only qualified candidates will be contacted. No calls, please. EOE.