Requisition Number: 21A315385
Location: Lawrenceville
Position Overview:
WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE (WCC), a unit of the Westminster College of the Arts of Rider University, announces an opening for a full-time, tenure-track conducting position in the Conducting, Organ and Sacred Music Department, to begin in Summer or Fall 2021. The rank is open and will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience and reputation. Westminster Choir College is charting a new course and remains committed to the core values of choral and musical artistry that are recognized as the hallmark of a Westminster education and have sustained its international reputation. Virtually all students sing in one or more of the required or elective choral ensembles. The Masters programs include the M.M. in Choral Conducting and the M.M. in Sacred Music with a choral studies emphasis.
We seek a candidate with the experience and training to conduct the Symphonic Choir, the largest ensemble at Westminster Choir College; and the Westminster Choir, which celebrated its 100th year in 2020. However, the final conducting/teaching assignment will be commensurate with the successful candidate's background and expertise. The successful candidate will help lead the College in developing a vision for the artist and choral musician of the 21st century and develop intercultural awareness through the choral program.
Westminster Symphonic Choir performs major symphonic works with orchestras in the New York-Philadelphia corridor, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Westminster Choir tours each January, records regularly, and has been the resident choir at Spoleto USA for more than 4 decades.
The successful candidate also may teach applied and class conducting to graduate and undergraduate students, courses in choral pedagogy, choral literature, and coach graduate recitals. The successful candidate will recruit through activities such as guest conducting engagements, visits to colleges and high schools, engagement with professional organizations, and participation in admissions events. All full-time faculty are expected to engage in scholarly/creative activity; contribute to departmental, college, and university work; advise students; and demonstrate a commitment to professional development. The successful candidate will be joining a distinguished faculty. Vital to success in the program, the successful candidate will be expected to maintain an effective working relationship with faculty (particularly with the voice faculty), staff, students, alumni, and the community.
WCC is one of four units of the Westminster College of the Arts, comprised additionally of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, Westminster Conservatory, and Westminster Continuing Education. The College of the Arts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. It values diversity among its faculty and remains committed to building a culturally competent and diverse intellectual and artistic community.
Westminster Choir College has an international reputation for excellence in choral performance and music education. It offers Baccalaureate degrees in music education, organ, piano, sacred music, and voice, as well as the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree. At the graduate level, WCC offers Master's degrees in American and public musicology, choral conducting, composition, music education, organ, piano, sacred music, voice pedagogy, and voice pedagogy and performance. Westminster Choir College draws its students from over 30 states and 10 foreign countries. WCC collaborates with the other colleges and schools of Rider University in support of the curriculum, performances, and productions. Lawrenceville is located within easy driving distance of Philadelphia and New York City.
To learn more about Westminster Choir College, please visit our website at https://www.rider.edu/academics/colleges-schools/westminster-college-arts/wcc
To learn more about choral studies, please visit our website at
https://www.rider.edu/academics/colleges-schools/westminster-college-arts/wcc/choral-studies
To learn more about Westminster College of the Arts, please visit our website at
https://www.rider.edu/academics/colleges-schools/westminster-college-arts
Position Requirements:
Doctorate or equivalent national/international experience and reputation.
Significant conducting and teaching experience at both the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as experience preparing major choral and choral/orchestral works.
An artist-teacher with exemplary musicianship, artistry, and distinctive pedagogical skills.
Evidence of successful collaborations with orchestras.
A history of scholarship in the form of recordings and/or publications.About Rider University:
The Rider University community is composed of faculty, staff and students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Candidates with a demonstrated commitment supportive of the multicultural needs of Rider University and the surrounding community are highly desired.
Rider University has been included as one of the nation's best universities by US News & World Report and remained in the top tier in the Regional Universities – North category. Additionally, The Princeton Review named Rider among its
