Director, University Chamber Orchestra

Department
AHD Staff: Music SP Student Performance

About the Department
For nearly 90 years, the University of Chicago Department of Music has been a leader in the academic study as well as the creation of serious music. With leading scholars in the relevant fields, the Department offers graduate degrees in Composition, Ethnomusicology, Music History, and Music Theory, as well as an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Beyond the classroom, the Music Department hosts a thriving co‑curricular Performance Program that involves 750+ musicians and encompasses four choirs, two orchestras, a wind ensemble, two jazz ensembles, a percussion ensemble, as well as a South Asian, a Middle East, Early Music, and Afro‑Cuban Ensemble, plus specialized programs in chamber music, piano, and vocal studies. Open to all undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students at the University as well as faculty, staff, and community members, this wide‑ranging Performance Program offers an exceptional environment for artistic inspiration and musical growth. For students in the Music Department, it serves as a meaningful complement to their academic studies.

Job Summary
The University Chamber Orchestra (UChO) is an integral component of the instrumental wing of the Performance Program, which includes the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chamber Orchestra, University Wind Ensemble, and UChicago Percussion Ensemble. The UChO Director provides artistic leadership, musical instruction, performance guidance, and occasional individual coaching for student, faculty/staff, and community musicians interested in developing their musical proficiency and deepening their musical understanding through ensemble performance. Specific duties involved include: planning two or more well‑balanced concert programs appropriate to the technical and musical capabilities of the ensemble members for the autumn and spring quarters; training and rehearsing the UChO as well as the cast and chorus chosen by the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company for the annual G&S production at the end of the winter quarter, which includes three public performances; leading all weekly rehearsals and all public performances of the ensemble; providing instructional materials and specific assignments to the student musicians; assessing and documenting the progress of those instructed; giving technical and musical feedback to individual students and advising on supplemental opportunities and advanced studies. The UChO Director works with students to help them improve their musical skills and deepen their understanding of chamber orchestra repertoire and ensemble performance, nurturing their lifelong involvement in the musical arts.

Selection Process

Screening and phone interviews completed by early July.

In‑person interviews and conducting auditions with the student ensemble scheduled during the second half of July.

Responsibilities

Program well‑balanced and engaging concert programs for the University Chamber Orchestra, featuring repertoire suitable for the available instrumental forces and appropriate for the technical level of the musicians. Incorporate collaborations, joint performances, and special projects with other Music Department ensembles or community music groups into the UChO season, insofar as possible. Schedule guest artists or Concerto Competition winners to appear with the ensemble periodically, as budget and circumstances allow. Recommended concert length: 50‑60 minutes.

Prepare sheet music and other resources in advance of the first ensemble rehearsal each quarter. Collect sheet music at the end of each concert cycle and return it to the appropriate library.

Make parts assignments, section assignments, and seating charts appropriate to the current skills and future development of the ensemble members.

Conduct weekly ensemble rehearsals on Monday evenings from 7:00‑9:30 pm, preparing for quarterly concert performances. Arrange additional sectional rehearsals, workshops, and individual coaching sessions as needed.

Create and distribute supplemental instructional materials to members to build basic musical skills, broaden musical understanding, and promote enthusiasm for the repertoire.

Offer individual musical coaching sessions to ensemble members as needed throughout the academic year.

Recruit additional musicians from the UChicago student body and the Hyde Park community in cooperation with the Director of Performance Programs.

Advise performers on planning and scheduling recitals, supplemental performances, community engagement activities, and advanced musical study as requested, very occasionally.

Meet with prospective students interested in pursuing musical opportunities as requested, very occasionally.

Track student attendance and engagement; submit grades (Pass/Fail) to the Registrar at the end of each academic quarter via the Faculty Access portal, in accordance with deadlines.

Follow all specified steps and format guidelines for working with the Music Department's Director of Communications, Graphic Designer, Operations Manager, and other staff when submitting concert information, program materials, personnel lists, and other relevant materials within deadlines.

Work within a modest operating budget, requesting music purchases, instrument acquisitions or repairs, musician refreshments or conference receptions, guest soloist or substitute performer payments, etc., observing required deadlines.

Reserve dates, times, and spaces for rehearsals, sectionals, and special activities with the appropriate staff, submitting stage diagrams, equipment requests, and details of any additional requirements for concert performances, in accordance with deadlines. Concert dates for the 2026‑27 season have already been selected and reserved; minor schedule adjustments possible within the overall program calendar.

Collaborate with the Director of Performance Programs to develop joint performances, special projects, and other activities for the UChO, contributing ideas and feedback for continuous improvement.

Read and respond to UChicago email regularly, not only on rehearsal days, during the regular academic year. Consult with the Director of Performance Programs about ensemble progress and problems that arise, fulfilling all deadlines.

Participate in staff meetings, individual planning meetings, and parent‑student staffing with moderate to high authority.

Assist staff in planning and executing events.

Perform other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:

College or university degree in a related field.

Work Experience:

2‑5 years of work experience in a related discipline developed through knowledge and skills.

Preferred Qualifications
Education

Master of Arts or music degree in musical performance from an accredited conservatory.

Experience

Substantive formal training in orchestral conducting.

Background serving as an ensemble conductor, assistant conductor, or cover conductor for an established ensemble at a community orchestra level, another educational institution, or a professional setting.

Training and experience in conducting opera, operetta, or musical theatre.

Familiarity working with solo and choral singers as well as orchestral musicians.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

Broad knowledge of chamber orchestra repertoire from within the Western canon of orchestral music.

Working knowledge of effective pedagogical approaches for teaching post‑high‑school orchestral musicians.

Preferred Competencies

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to work successfully with students at various technical and musical levels.

Strong organizational skills.

Dependability and accountability.

Ability to collaborate within a well‑established Performance Program, cooperating with the Director of Performance Programs and other PP Directors.

Working Conditions

Regular weekly commitment to on‑campus teaching and coaching during the academic year (three nine‑week quarters, October to May). Monday evening rehearsals strongly preferred.

Part‑time, non‑benefits eligible position requiring approximately 16 hours per week. Schedule heavier during the winter quarter in preparation for the annual Gilbert and Sullivan production.

Pay Range

$1,500 – $1,700 per month.

Application Documents

Resume/CV, including academic training, conducting experience, and list of orchestral repertoire performed publicly with dates and ensembles (required).

Cover Letter, including a statement of your reasons for your interest in this position (required).

Links to a minimum of two recent conducting videos within the last two years, preferably one rehearsal video and one performance video (required).

Benefits Eligibility
This position is not eligible for benefits.

Equal‑Opportunity Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information, see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Accommodation Statement
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773‑702‑5800 or submit a request via the Applicant Inquiry Form.

Background Check
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment; the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis.

Security Report
The University of Chicago’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report provides information about offices and programs. It can be accessed online at http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies are available upon request from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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