Job Description / Duties

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE & DANCE. As a comprehensive performing arts school set in one of the world’s finest public institutions of higher education, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) is deeply engaged in the creation, practice, scholarship, and pedagogy of music, theatre, and dance. We aim to provide leadership, nationally and internationally, in all three fields. We assert and celebrate the value of the arts to the mission of the University of Michigan. SMTD is strongly committed to access, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression as a means of enacting justice and achieving and sustaining excellence.

Duties: Successful applicants will be responsible for directing either one Main Stage production with an orchestra or one Studio production with a piano or chamber orchestra per academic term. Additionally, they will lead comprehensive opera workshop classes that form part of a prescribed sequence of courses for both graduate and undergraduate students. Depending on their individual skills, research interests, and experience, there is also the possibility of developing and teaching additional courses or seminars in related areas. As a faculty member, the candidate will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching excellence. They will be tasked with creating an innovative curriculum that caters to a diverse student body with varied identities and backgrounds, encompassing a wide range of educational opportunities and career pathways. The successful candidate will be responsible for recruiting and retaining students who show exceptional promise in the field of vocal arts. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, the candidate will be expected to develop and maintain a visible national and international profile as both a director and a pedagogue. This includes actively engaging in professional activities, such as directing productions and participating in conferences, workshops, and other relevant events. The selected candidate will also be expected to actively contribute to faculty governance, attend faculty and departmental meetings, and serve on committees at both the departmental and university levels.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Qualifications: We are seeking an experienced stage director to join our vibrant vocal arts program, which is dedicated to the comprehensive development of classical vocalists in the 21st century, with opera playing a central role. The ideal candidate will possess a broad and in-depth knowledge of operatic repertoire suitable for both emerging and pre-professional artists. They should have prior academic experience in teaching stage-centric skills to singers or have an impressive and distinguished professional career as a director. In addition, the ideal candidate will demonstrate a proven ability to empower, advocate for, and value a diverse range of students with different identities and experiences. This commitment should be evident in their pedagogy, mentoring, and other related activities. We highly value applicants who have shown an interest in new repertoire and innovative stage practices in their previous work. Collaboration is a vital aspect of our program, so it is essential for the candidate to have a documented track record of effective collaboration with creative, design, and production teams. The applicant should possess a deep understanding of the current operatic landscape and be able to equip students with the necessary theatrical skills to succeed on the professional stage. Their pedagogical and artistic vision should closely align with the overall mission of the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the U-M Department of Voice.

Rank/Track: Assistant Professor/Tenure-Track Appointment

Application Instructions

To Apply: Materials are only being accepted via Interfolio https://apply.interfolio.com/128860. Required documents to be uploaded are: letter of interest, curriculum vitae, evidence of professional and teaching activity, and a list of at least five current references with contact information. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance situates diversity as a core value and is dedicated to promoting access, equity, and inclusion for all individuals. In your application, please include a statement that describes how your research, creative activities, teaching, and/or service in the past, present, and/or future will advance the School's commitments. Please ensure you upload documents to the position for which you are applying and not to your personal Interfolio account. Additional materials may be requested, including, but not limited to, videos of rehearsals, dramatic coachings, final production, or a production portfolio, following receipt of materials

Deadline: Review of materials will begin October 1, 2023. Materials need to be received by October 1, 2023.

Contact Information

Please apply at https://apply.interfolio.com/128860