Position: OrchKids Assistant Choir Director
Department: OrchKids
Reports to: OrchKids Director of Education
Classification: Part-Time
Compensation: $50/hr
Location: Baltimore, MD
Times: After School Monday-Thursday (between 3-6pm)

• Two days at OrchKids East Baltimore site
• Two days at OrchKids West Baltimore site

THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and ORCHKIDS

For over a century, the BSO has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. As the largest cultural institution in Maryland, the BSO is internationally recognized and locally admired for its innovation, performances and recordings, and educational community initiatives including OrchKids. 

OrchKids uses music as a vehicle for students to develop 21st century skills (creativity, collaboration, leadership, etc.) that are transferable to all areas of their lives. Marin Alsop, Music Director Laureate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and OrchKids Founding Director, shaped OrchKids into the cornerstone of the BSO’s community engagement efforts across the city with her artistic leadership and direction. OrchKids was founded in 2008 with 30 students at one elementary school with seed funding from Marin Alsop and Founding Donors Rheda Becker and Robert E. Meyerhoff.

OrchKids now works with nine schools in Baltimore City, serving over 2,000 children from Pre-K through 12th grade during and after school.

In collaboration with several community partners, OrchKids provides music education, instruments, academic assistance, meals, mental health resources, connection to social services, as well as performance and mentorship opportunities at no cost to students and families. OrchKids is an acknowledged leader in the El Sistema and social-change through music movement throughout the world.

JOB SUMMARY

The OrchKids Assistant Choir Director is a dynamic educator who supports OrchKids choir students ranging in ages from 1st-4th grade. The Choir Director helps guide the musical development of the program’s choir singers through weekly rehearsals and sectionals.

The OrchKids educational philosophy focuses on student-centered learning, evidence-based teaching practices relevant to our students’ lives, creation and improvisation, inclusion, student voice and agency, and ensemble music-making. This methodology aims to promote synchronicity and community as well as simultaneously cultivating high artistic skills (i.e. technique, learning challenging repertoire) and fostering creativity. 

OrchKids supports the professional development of all our teaching artists by providing compensated and mandatory training on topics including trauma-informed teaching, classroom routines and practices, implicit bias and racism within the context of Baltimore City, and pedagogical training and resources. Support and feedback is also provided through teacher observation, reflection meetings, peer connection and collaboration, and regular communication with Program Managers, Director of Education, and Associate Director of Programs. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support choir rehearsals in accordance with the OrchKids curricular and educational philosophy as outlined in OrchKids orientations and teacher professional development sessions
• Provide piano accompaniment in choir rehearsals and concert performances
• Serve as a consistent and compassionate mentor to OrchKids students
• Hold students to high artistic standards, cultivating both their technical and vocal skills
• Embrace OrchKids’ mission, goals, and guiding principles
• Supervise students during transitions and breaktime
• Attend all required concerts, meetings, events and professional development sessions
• Actively incorporate into classes the perspectives, strategies, language, routines, and other pedagogical tools conveyed through the OrchKids professional development sessions
• Maintain professional, prompt lines of communication with OrchKids staff
• Preparing substitute rehearsal materials if there is a necessary absence 
• Collaborate with the Choir Director to establish rehearsal plans and concert goals
• Being prepared and knowledgeable on the repertoire selection for the ensemble 
• Compensated planning time each week ($30/hr)
• Additional tasks/responsibilities:
  • Requesting in advance (at least 24 hours) any needs for copying of parts or scores
  • Maintaining the scores and instrumental parts once copies are provided
  • Supply requests/maintenance/managing choir needs
  • Respond to emails within 48 hours

QUALIFICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES

• Piano playing abilities, sufficient enough to accompany a choir in rehearsal and concert
• Passion for working with youth and desire to serve as a role model to students
• Strong group-ensemble or classroom management skills
• Considerable experience leading beginner – intermediate level student choirs
• In-depth knowledge of beginner to intermediate pedagogy and repertoire relevant to either young voices and choirs
• Willingness to jump in and embrace OrchKids’ approach to music-making through creative composition, improvisation and playing a variety of musical genres
• Flexibility and ability to work collaboratively with the OrchKids team and instrumental departments
• Punctuality, professionalism and excellent interpersonal skills

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume to orchkids@bsomusic.org

No phone calls. Applications are currently being received on a rolling basis and candidates will be contacted based on openings and qualifications.  Finalists will be asked to demonstrate teaching and rehearsal skills at an interview. Should a position no longer be available at the time of the candidate’s interview, they may be asked to be listed on the OrchKids substitute teacher list. 

OUR CULTURE AS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and OrchKids use the BSO mission and shared values (Appendices) to govern decisions, actions, and behaviors. These values guide how we conduct our work and professional relationships: Creativity, Respect, Excellence, Education/Engagement, and Diversity. We are focused on a people-first culture for our patrons and our entire BSO family. 

The BSO is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, differing physical abilities, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, other non-merit factors. 

APPENDIX I:  ORCHKIDS MISSION

OrchKids provides Baltimore youth with equitable access to community-based, high-quality music instruction and programming that teaches musical and social skills transferable to all areas of their lives.

_________________________ 

APPENDIX II:  BSO SHARED VALUES

In October 2021, the BSO Board of Directors approved the following shared values, or “BSO Creed”: 

CREATIVITY

• We believe the BSO is first and foremost an artistic institution that is dedicated to the finest creative musical expression.   
• We seek to facilitate opportunities for creative approaches that allow musicians, staff, board, and partners to collaborate to serve our mission.    
• We strive to inform all decisions with our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.

RESPECT   

• We believe the BSO should value, appreciate, and treat all individuals – patrons, staff, musicians, guest artists, and volunteers with compassion, respect, and dignity.    
• We seek to create a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable environment for all.   
• We strive to embrace all human differences and commit to caring and civility towards all with whom we work and serve. 

EXCELLENCE   

• We believe it is an honor to present great music to stir and nurture the soul.   
• We seek to attract, develop, and retain the best talent in all musicians, staff, board, and volunteers. Everyone who works at the BSO has an important role to play in our success.        
• We strive to act with uncompromising integrity and transparency.  

ENGAGEMENT / EDUCATION   

• We believe deep connections to the diverse communities we serve are essential to our mission.   
• We seek to inspire and educate with powerful and meaningful musical experiences for audiences of all ages.    
• We strive to nurture the talents of musicians of all ages with accessible educational initiatives and programs.     
• We strive to create a culture where musicians, staff, board, and volunteers communicate, collaborate, understand, and appreciate each other’s work.   

DIVERSITY

• We believe diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging – with respect to race, gender, and personal identity – are cultural and strategic imperatives.    
• We seek to create a culture of excellence that ensures access and inclusion of diverse voices in all that we do.  
• We strive to use the universal language of music to bring people together and embrace our multicultural society.