Join Our Team

Description

Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral organization for adults over the age of 55 years, seeks to expand its team of talented conductors. We are currently hiring Sentimental Journey Singers conductors for new Arts for Life ensembles.

Sentimental Journey Singers is a community chorus for people with early to mid-stage memory loss, their care partners and volunteer singers.   

Utilizing the expressive power and proven health benefits of music-making, participants will stimulate voice/body/brain connections, harmonize with others in a joyous environment, and develop an artistic craft under the direction of professional teaching artists.

In a space where all are seen, heard, and integral, the Sentimental Journey singers are provided with the opportunity to connect and give back to their community through performance.

Learn more about Sentimental Journey Singers and Encore’s other Arts for Life programs here.

Conductor Position Overview

Conductors of Sentimental Journey Singers report to the Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research and the Artistic Director for Programming. The conductors prepare and rehearse music approved by the Artistic Director for Programming. Conductors lead 1.5-hour rehearsals, once a week, for 15 weeks.

The semester’s repertoire consists of 4-5 familiar and “new” songs arranged in unison, two and three-part harmony. The conductor is responsible for using repertoire to instill proper vocal technique and choral skills while creating a stimulating environment that emphasizes joy, community, and expressivity. Sheet music, custom-made lyric sheets, and rehearsal tracks will be provided to each singer. Conductors may make use of these tools to assign achievable weekly goals for participants to review, reinforce, or prepare songs between rehearsals. Conductors direct at least one concert per semester.

Principal Responsibilities

• Prepare and rehearse repertoire for a public performance
• Structure rehearsals to emphasize body/mind/voice connections for the individual singer and social/inter-personal connections within the ensemble
• Lead a thoughtful, yet flexible rehearsal process where participants feel simultaneously held to a high standard and leave feeling successful
• Arrive 30 minutes prior to rehearsal for any set up and to greet singers
• Conduct 15 rehearsals per semester, per ensemble.
• Conduct at least one concert per semester.

Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in music, preferably with an emphasis on conducting and vocal performance
• Required:
• Strong piano skills including the ability to conduct rehearsals from behind the piano
• Choral teaching experience
• Demonstrated ability to work with adult singers of varying cognitive, physical, and vocal/musical ability
• Willing to attend training sessions and engage in supplemental artistic activities such as rhythmic shaker use, physical or dance-inspired warm-ups, sing-alongs, and cognitive activities
• Preferred:
• Knowledge of cognitive impairments and music therapy
• Ability to Maintain consistent rehearsal structure and energy in a joyful, caring and fun environment
• Flexibility to adjust session plans and make physical adaptations within the rehearsal space
• Genuine interest, respect and concern for singers
• Ability to foster social connectedness (sense of group belonging, collective ownership)

Job Type: Part Time, Contract; all groups meet weekly on weekdays or Saturdays between 10 AM – 3 PM

Compensation: Currently: $200/per 90-minute rehearsal; 15-week semester, $300/per concert

Reports to: Artistic Director for Programming and Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to Mary Ann East, Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research, at maryann.east@encorecreativity.org.

This posting is continually updated to create a pool of qualified candidates.

Description

Melody Makers is an interactive music-based program designed for people experiencing mid to moderate stage memory loss in partnership with members of the greater community.

Principal Responsibilities

Melody Makers Facilitators will:

• Plan and lead group Melody Makers programs across a 10-week semester of 45- to 60-minute weekly sessions
• Attend a virtual facilitator meeting each semester with the Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research

Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or music therapy
• Required:
  • Strong piano and/or guitar skills
  • Experience in vocal technique, individual and group music classes
• Preferred:
  • Knowledge of cognitive impairments and music therapy
• The Facilitator must embrace the philosophy of process over performance. Encore always strives to present quality programming, and understand the importance of building community, intellectual stimulation, and artistic expression. Therefore, the focus is on achieving these goals through choral singing.

Job Type: Part-time, Contract

Pay: $150/60-minute weekly session, 10 sessions per season

Work Location: Multiple locations.

Reports to: Artistic Director for Programming and Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to Mary Ann East, Artistic Director for Lifelong Learning and Research, at maryann.east@encorecreativity.org.

This posting is continually updated to create a pool of qualified candidates.