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 our team of talented conductors. We are currently hiring Sentimental Journey Singers conductors for multiple locations across the Baltimore-Washington area.

Sentimental Journey Singers, a program within Encore Creativity’s Arts for Life programs, is a choir for singers with early to mid-stage cognitive change such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and their care partners. The groups learn 3-part mixed music; soprano, alto, baritone that is a combination of popular songs from the 40s, 50s, and 60s as well as American Songbook. The group rehearses once a week for approximately 15 weeks. The 90-minute rehearsal includes vocal exercises, rehearsal of choral repertoire, fun sing along pieces and therapeutic music games and movement activities. At the conclusion of the semester, Sentimental Journey Singers participate in a concert to showcase our work.

Responsibilities

Sentimental Journey Singers conductors will:

• Lead assigned Sentimental Journey Singers ensemble during 90-minute rehearsals over a 15-week semester, providing basic instruction on selected repertoire and facilitating therapeutic music games
• Conduct assigned Sentimental Journey Singers ensemble during at least one semester-ending performance
• Participate in Zoom conductor meetings with Encore Creativity Artistic Director and Director of Arts for Life

Repertoire is selected and assigned by Encore Creativity Director of Arts for Life prior to each 15-week semester.

Qualifications

The SJS Conductor should have, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or music therapy. Strong piano skills are required, including the ability to conduct rehearsals from the piano. Experience in vocal technique, individual and group vocal classes is required. Knowledge of cognitive impairments and music therapy is preferred, but not required as basic training is available.

The Conductor must embrace the philosophy of process over performance. Encore always strives to present quality programming and we also understand the importance of building community, intellectual stimulation, and artistic expression. Therefore, our focus is on achieving these goals through choral singing.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $200/rehearsal (x15 per semester), x300/performance (1x/semester), depending on experience

Work Location: Multiple locations

Reports to: Artistic Director and Director of Arts for Life

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to Mary Ann East, Director of Arts for Life, at maryann.east@encorecreativity.org.

Description

Melody Makers, a program within Encore Creativity’s Arts for Life programs, is a 45 to 60-minute musical experience designed for those with mid- to moderate-stage cognitive change such as Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias (Melody Makers) and their care partners or independent living residents (Ambassadors). The session includes vocal exercises, singing of rounds and partner songs, rhythm and movement activities, and opportunities for Melody Makers and Ambassadors to get to know each other and exercise their minds.

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 Director of Arts for Life

The Melody Maker Facilitator should have, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or music therapy. Strong piano and/or guitar skills are required. Experience in vocal technique, individual and group music classes is required. Knowledge of cognitive impairments and music therapy is preferred, but not required as basic training is available.

The Facilitator must embrace the philosophy of process over performance. Encore always strives to present quality programming and we also understand the importance of building community, intellectual stimulation, and artistic expression. Therefore, our main 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; for the fall 2023 season, openings are located in:

• Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, The Terrace (Falls Church, VA); Fridays, 10:30-11:30am
• Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads (Falls Church, VA); day and time negotiable
• Goodwin House Alexandria (Alexandria, VA); Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30am
• Asbury Methodist Village (Gaithersburg, MD); Monday, Wednesday, or Friday – day negotiable, 11am-12pm

Additional openings are anticipated in Baltimore, MD and Cape Fear, NC.

Reports to: Artistic Director and Director of Arts for Life

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to Mary Ann East, Director of Arts for Life, at maryann.east@encorecreativity.org.

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