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 has served over 10,000 students over its thirty year history and continues to reach hundreds of singers each year 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.

ABOUT THE MEN’S ENSEMBLE

The Brooklyn Youth Chorus Men’s Ensemble is for changed voice singers in the tenor and bass voice categories. They have performed or recorded with major orchestras and artists such as the New York Philharmonic, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, John Legend and for such important dignitaries as Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the New York Giants and Jets, among others.

In most years, the Men’s Ensemble completes a performance tour and performs in a variety of venues and in collaboration with our artists. Additionally, Brooklyn Youth Chorus hosts an annual Men’s Ensemble Composer Competition to promote the creation and performance of new repertoire from a diverse range of composers.

Brooklyn Youth Chorus is seeking a collaborative and creative part-time Men’s Ensemble Conductor with a background in children’s/youth choral education (pedagogy, curriculum, repertoire and voice technique), tenor/bass ensemble leadership experience, artistic vision, and a desire to develop the next generation of citizen artists. The Men’s Ensemble Conductor will lead the overall programmatic elements and performance opportunities of the Men’s Ensemble while working with the organization to attract and nurture a diverse student body. This work includes ensuring an artistic and pedagogical throughline from the training divisions to the Men’s Ensemble, developing and deploying curriculum, building a strong calendar of performances, tours, and activities to deepen learning for existing choristers and attract new singers. 

The position is seasonal, with rehearsals running from August-May with school-wide performances in December and May and various additional performance opportunities throughout the season. The position averages 6 hours a week during the season (4 rehearsal hours on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:00-7:00pm and 2 flexible administrative hours) with additional hours each semester for end-of-semester performances, conductor meetings, professional development, auditions, and assessments. The position also includes summer artistic planning and administrative time. There may be 3-4 additional artistic projects, performances, and/or tours each season as opportunities arise and the Men’s Ensemble Conductor helps develop artistic opportunities for their ensemble.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Men’s Ensemble Conductor reports to the Director of Choral Education with oversight by the Artistic Director. The Men’s Ensemble Conductor will also work closely with the School Administrator, Men’s Ensemble Chorus Manger, conducting faculty, and program team. This position will collaborate regularly with the production, marketing, and development departments on both specific performance projects and general institutional support.

The Men’s Ensemble Conductor will:

Leadership & Artistic Planning:

• Collaborate closely with the Founder & Artistic Director, Director of Choral Education, and training division conductors as a member of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus conducting faculty to create an artistically fulfilling experience with a strong pedagogical throughline for the tenor and bass singers of Brooklyn Youth Chorus.
• Help recruit new tenor and bass singers to Brooklyn Youth Chorus in collaboration with program, artistic, and marketing departments, including providing information for the creation and distribution of recruiting materials, leading recruiting performances and workshops, and building relationships.
• Create and develop performance and commissioning opportunities for the Men’s Ensemble in collaboration with the artistic and leadership team.
• Work with the artistic and program team to cultivate and build strategic community partnerships and performance opportunities to support recruiting and performance objectives.
• Serve as the public face of Brooklyn Youth Chorus when conducting or representing the Men’s Ensemble.
• Lead the development, growth, and implementation of the Men’s Ensemble Composer Competition including setting schedule, managing timeline, reviewing submissions, choosing winner, working with composer to deliver commissioned work, and managing both internal and external communications.
• Participate in planned, institutional, re-branding of the Men’s Ensemble to choose a new, gender-inclusive ensemble name.

Program and Rehearsal Responsibilities

• Train with Founder & Artistic Director to become proficient in her trademarked Cross-Choral TrainingⓇ pedagogy.
• Collaborate with artistic and program departments on seasonal artistic planning.
• Select developmentally and artistically appropriate repertoire for the Men’s Ensemble.
• Lead Men’s Ensemble rehearsals two times a week from September through May with a week-long summer intensive at the end of August to start the year. 
• Work closely with the Men’s Ensemble Chorus Manager and School Administrator to meet programmatic needs of the ensemble.
• Collaborate closely with the Men’s Ensemble Chorus manager to provide administrative and company support for the Men’s Ensemble; Provide strategy, structure, and direction for the drafting and deployment of division memos and performance polls, and to work out the detailed logistics of performance scheduling, event rosters, etc.
• Work with Men’s Ensemble Chorus Manager on individual chorister progress, attendance, annual assessments, and behavioral issues.  
• Connect weekly with the program and artistic teams and with the chorus manager to address general program and performance administrative support.
• Participate in monthly conductor faculty meetings.
• Engage in annual training and professional development sessions both classroom-specific and institutional.

Performances

• Conduct all Men’s Ensemble performances.
• Collaborate with the Artistic Director to identify, evaluate, and prepare students for performance opportunities both for Men’s Ensemble alone and in collaboration with other performing ensembles and levels.
• Work closely with the Production and Events Manager and Men’s Ensemble Chorus. Manager to meet artistic, production, and company needs of Men’s Ensemble for performances.

Auditions and Assessments

• Administer and analyze written pre-assessments (Fall) and post-assessments (Spring) for all enrolled Men’s Ensemble choristers.
• Administer annual vocal and musicianship assessments for all Men’s Ensemble choristers.
• Conduct vocal assessments for all new tenor/bass auditionees and for current choristers whose voices have changed or are in the process of changing.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Belief in the mission and core values of Brooklyn Youth Chorus
• An experienced music educator and choral conductor with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Working knowledge and experience with common music teaching methods (Kodály, Dalcroze, etc.), philosophy, and pedagogy, including fluency in relative (movable ‘do’) solfege and metric counting
• An understanding of vocal pedagogy and/or functional voice training specializing in children’s/young adult voices
• Knowledge of and experience teaching and conducting a diverse choral repertoire
• Excellent communication skills
• Flexibility to work some nights and weekends
• Experience working with young people from a diverse set of backgrounds 
• Knowledge of and experience with New York City’s arts, education, and arts education communities preferred
• Facility and competency working with and/or learning myriad digital communications and music-related technologies and platforms including any of the following: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Mailchimp, FileMaker, Soundtrap, Noteflight, and/or Sibelius preferred
• Must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent experience
• Full COVID-19 inoculation by start date

COMPENSATION

Base compensation $17,000-20,000 commensurate with experience covers all pre-scheduled rehearsals, rehearsal planning, weekly administrative time, winter and spring end-of-semester concerts, four contracted performances, annual chorister assessments, monthly conductor meetings, and a predetermined amount of professional development. There is opportunity for additional compensation on an hourly or project basis for additional work including performances, projects, or tours. 

Please send a resume, cover letter, two stylistically contrasting performance videos (with you conducting), and one classroom teaching video (if available) 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.