Job Title: Choir Director
Search committee: Marie Narini, David Kuhnke, Ken Noronha, Deirdre Bryant, Adriana Monti, John Kraus.
Remuneration to be negotiated commensurate with experience.
The Northumberland Orchestra and Choir (NOC) seeks applications for the position of Choir Director to commence during the 2020/2021 season.
Northumberland Orchestra and Choir
Located in beautiful Northumberland County, Ontario, a community in love with the arts, the Northumberland Orchestra and Choir performs 5-6 concerts a season under the direction of Music Director John Kraus. Currently comprised of 35 experienced singers, the NOC choir seeks a Choir Director to play an integral role in growing the choir and fostering the talent of its members.
The choir performs a wide variety of repertoire, both with the 60-piece orchestra and with piano accompaniment, but focuses on larger classical orchestral choral works including Lauridsen’s Lux Eterna, and Brahms’ Nanie. The NOC has been fortunate to work with talented vocal soloists, including Elizabeth McDonald, Jacob Abrahamse, and Fr. Paul Massel. The choir has also been featured in choral arrangements with non-classical guest performers, including the Sultans of Strings, Molly Johnson, and Quartetto Gelato.
Additional information about the organization can be found at www.northumberlandmusic.ca and on Facebook @NorthumberlandOC.
The choir rehearses Tuesday evenings at Trinity United Church, located at 284 Division St. in Cobourg. Note that due to COVID 19, our season for 2020-2021 is expected to be shortened, with a planned restart Tuesday September 8, 2020, subject to health notices and openings of our rehearsal venues. A detailed concert and rehearsal schedule for the 2020-2021 season is attached to this notice.
Job Description
Reporting to Music Director John Kraus, the Choir Director will bring strong leadership and will devote time and energy to the organization. The Choir Director will be responsible for preparing the choir for performances through efficient and effective instructional practices, including leading effective and innovative warm-up exercises, organizing and/or directing additional sectional rehearsals, and providing information on how to practice at home. The Choir Director will occasionally conduct the choir during performances. The Choir Director will be committed to developing both the size and quality of the choir, including recruiting new members, attending planning, programing and organizational meetings, and working to develop a rapport with Northumberland County and nearby regions. The Choir Director will strive to foster a positive atmosphere within the choir.
Experience and Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
- A Bachelor of Music Degree and/or ARCT
- Experience conducting community choral ensembles
- Demonstrated knowledge of vocal technique
- Strong leadership abilities
Application Process
Interested candidates should apply via e-mail to communication@northumberlandmusic.ca with the following materials:
- Cover letter and resume (not to exceed 3 pages total)
- Three professional references, including a telephone number and e-mail address for each reference
- A video clip of the candidate conducting in a choral setting. An mp4 file or a link to a YouTube video are acceptable formats. If neither are available, please contact j.kraus@northumberlandmusic.ca to make alternative arrangements.
Interviews will be held either in person in Cobourg, Ontario or via video chat during the week of August 17th, 2020.
Following interviews, short-listed candidates will be invited to conduct a portion of a rehearsal with the NOC choir.
Please direct any questions about the application process to j.kraus@northumberlandmusic.ca.
The deadline for applications is 8:00 am on Monday, July 27, 2020.