Job Description / Duties

Position Description
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University invites applications for an interim, full-time faculty position as opera conductor/pianist/coach in the Conservatory. The ideal candidate for this position will be a passionate educator and an extraordinary musician who is committed to excellence in teaching, has a demonstrated record of national or international musical engagement as an opera conductor and coach, and enjoys working in a campus climate that promotes cultural diversity and multicultural understanding. This is an interim, one-year, full-time faculty position with the possibility of renewal. The initial appointment will begin July 1, 2021. Compensation is commensurate with professional experience.

Opera at Peabody:
The opera program mounts two fully staged productions with orchestra in the mainstage theater every year. Each mainstage production has two casts plus a cover cast. Additionally there is an outreach program, an opera scenes program and the current program champions our unique Etudes program with the composition department, as well as a bi-annual early-music work. The vocal studies department serves up to 120 voice majors each year.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Conduct, coach and rehearse undergraduate and graduate students in rehearsals, performances, and in the classroom, exhibiting a thorough knowledge of the standard operatic repertoire, musical style, and comfort with the standard operatic languages.

Develop and teach courses which educate singers for musical success in the ever-changing 21st century operatic scene while maintaining a strong link to the core repertory.

Fashion a teaching outline of desirable and necessary musical and language skill sets for operatic training to be mastered by the voice students during their tenure.

Oversee all musical aspects of two major productions, chamber operas, and scene programs, either conducting them or overseeing guest music directors or coaches, including budget and scheduling.

Inspire singers and colleagues in other disciplines throughout Peabody and JHU to work together to take full advantage of interdisciplinary resources and opportunities.

Foster programs that reach into the Baltimore-Washington region and bring opera into otherwise underserved communities.
Peabody’s current program champions our unique Etudes program, a collaboration with the Peabody composition department, as well as our long-standing outreach operas, and a bi-annual early-music production.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Required Qualifications:

Master's Degree or comparable professional experience
Minimum 5 years teaching in higher education or young artist programs

A comprehensive knowledge of the standard operatic repertoire
High level of familiarity and commitment to the performance of contemporary operatic repertoire and new works

High level piano skills

High level conducting skills

Mastery of French, German, Italian and English language and diction. Mastery of additional language(s) a plus
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

NOTE: The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

Additional Information

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Contact Information

Application Instructions
To ensure full consideration all materials must be received by November 15, 2020, however, applications will be received until the position is filled.

Required Materials for Application:

Cover letter

Curriculum Vitae

Phone and email contact information for five references

Links to video demonstrations excerpts of at least 3 recent opera productions directed and/or produced of varying styles. Videos(s) must be submitted via website link(s) and uploaded as one attachment.

A statement outlining how the candidate envisions (1) the teaching opera in a conservatory setting in remote, hybrid online and in person forms and (2) how opera will change (if at all) in a post-COVID-19 world.

Apply here:
http://apply.interfolio.com/79712

Employer Profile

Located in the heart of Baltimore’s Mount Vernon Cultural District, the Peabody Institute was founded in 1857 as America’s first academy of music. Today, through its degree-granting Conservatory and its community-based Preparatory music and dance school, Peabody trains musicians and dancers of every age and at every level. Each year Peabody stages nearly 1000 major public concerts and performances. Peabody is one of the nine divisions of the Johns Hopkins University.