Job Center > Assistant Professor, Opera Musical Director - University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music

Assistant Professor, Opera Musical Director - University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music

This is a Permanent, Full-time position.

Category: College/University
State/Province: Memphis, TN
Position: Assistant Professor, Opera Musical Director
Deadline: October 13, 2021
Posted: September 17, 2021

Job Description / Duties

The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis seeks an experienced artist-teacher for a tenure-track faculty appointment as the musical director of opera, to begin August 2022. The School of Music’s Vocal Arts Area is a highly collaborative, multidimensional area of the Performance Studies Division offering the BM, MM, AD and DMA degree programs. The accomplishments of candidates for this position must reflect their commitment to working with an inclusive student population, and their ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural academic goals of the university.

Responsibilities:
-Assist in repertoire selection and casting for all opera performances.
-Coach singers in preparation for performance and audition opportunities.
-Rehearse and conduct the opera orchestra for all performances.
-Conduct main-stage operas each year.
-Accompany public performances and selected rehearsals.
-Be responsible for the musical integrity and execution of all opera events.
-Mentor student pianists and vocalists.
-Teach diction at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Qualifications / Required Skills

-Master’s degree with significant professional experience required, ABD or doctorate preferred.
-Documented national or international experience and expertise coaching singers from the piano in the standard and contemporary operatic repertoire.
-Demonstrated proficiency in keyboard arts.
-Demonstrated proficiency in ensemble conducting.
-Extensive language/diction skills encompassing Italian, French, and German. Additional skills in Russian, Czech, and/or Spanish desired.
-Teaching experience at the highest level of excellence at the graduate and/or professional level with a proven record of student successes.
-Demonstrated commitment to pedagogy and recruitment.
-A strong interest in and experience with community engagement, music entrepreneurship, music leadership, and/or other nontraditional career models is desirable.
-The accomplishments of candidates for this position must reflect their commitment to working with an inclusive student population, and their ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and collective mission, vision and operating standards of the School of Music.

Additional Information

Candidates should submit an application. Additional items required at time of application include the following:
-Cover letter
-CV
-Professional Resume (optional)
-Statement of teaching philosophy
-Complete contact information (address, phone, and email) for three professional references
Video examples: 10-15 minutes of vocal coaching from the piano, 10-15 minutes of piano performance (collaborative preferred, solo acceptable), 10-15 minutes of conducting (operatic preferred, orchestral acceptable)

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience.

Contact Information

Professor Ben Smith
Chair, Opera Musical Director Search Committee
Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
ben.smith@memphis.edu

Employer Profile

The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music enjoys a proud 75-year history of producing successful and accomplished music professionals. Anchored in the culturally diverse and musically rich, cosmopolitan city of Memphis, the School’s inclusive program is purposely designed to inspire, train, and launch sustainable careers for musicians, scholars, and industry professionals of tomorrow. Instructing over 450 students in 26 degree areas, the School’s 70 full and part-time faculty are focused on student success in and outside the classroom. The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music also distinguishes itself as the only doctoral granting institution in the state of Tennessee. Opera is part of the Vocal Arts Area which boasts almost 70 voice majors and populates four choirs, in addition to a myriad of recitals, chamber music programs, and various outreach programs. The opera season includes two main stage productions with orchestra and a scenes program with piano. Faculty are actively involved in local, national, and international performance careers, providing students real-time, real-world perspectives as they begin to navigate their own professional music careers. The School’s immersive and forward-thinking curriculum along with broad community partnerships create unrivaled local and global opportunities for students and faculty. With the opening of the new Scheidt Family Music Center in 2022, the School will solidify its place as the most comprehensive school of music in the region. The 82,000 square foot Music Center boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a 900+ seat concert hall. The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and is housed in the College of Communication and Fine Arts. www.memphis.edu/music

Founded in 1912, the University of Memphis welcomes more than 22,000 students to campus every year. Diversity is one of the University’s strengths. Students and faculty come from all over the world to be a part of the UofM experience. As an internationally recognized, urban public research university, UofM provides the highest quality education in one of the world’s most musically active communities.