Position

The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music invites applicants for a full-time position in Jazz Studies, a department within the Division of Contemporary Music.  The appointment is anticipated at the rank of either Assistant Professor of Practice or Associate Professor of Practice (commensurate with experience), and begins on August 16, 2024. This is a non-tenure track (RTPC) position with an initial period of appointment of three years; the appointment is renewable beyond the initial period.

For more than 130 years, the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music has prepared students for exceptional careers and a life in music as performers, composers, industry leaders, professionals, and educators. Founded in 1884 and today the oldest continually operating cultural institution in Los Angeles, USC Thornton is internationally recognized as one of the finest conservatories and music schools in the U.S. Led by Dean, Jason King, who joined Thornton in 2023, the school blends the rigors of a traditional conservatory-style education with the benefits of a leading research university. USC Thornton offers students a full range of musical disciplines across a demanding, innovative curriculum, and the opportunity to work with a faculty of national and international renown.

We are seeking a full-time jazz piano instructor to join our renowned jazz faculty. The ideal candidate will have an elite-level performing career and collegiate teaching experience. The duties of this position include, but are not limited to, ensemble classroom teaching, private piano instruction, and jazz composition instruction. Being that we have a highly diverse jazz student population, we encourage candidates that have additional skills in areas of music technology such as music production, engineering, live performance production, and have performance experience in other genres of music to apply. Other duties will include recruitment, curriculum development, and robust participation In departmental governance.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required, high-level performance experience a must.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred candidates will have a documented performance career with other noted jazz elites. Preferred candidates will have several years of collegiate teaching experience.

Compensation

The hiring range for this 9-month academic year position is $80,000 - $115,000.  When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply through the USC online system at www.usc.edu/jobs , and are asked to provide:

• A cover letter

• CV

• Teaching statement

• List of references (minimum of three).  Individuals listed may be solicited for reference letters.

Please do not send other materials; additional materials may be requested at a later date. Materials will not be returned.

Review of applications will begin in December 2023.

The University of Southern California is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed, and background. 

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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