Position: Latin Ensemble Director
Department: OrchKids
Reports to: OrchKids Program Manager
Classification: Part-Time
Compensation: $70/hr
Location: Highlandtown Elementary #237
Times: Thursdays, 5:30-6:20pm Rehearsal

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 musical and social skills that are transferable to all areas of their lives including creativity, self-expression, and teamwork. 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 school 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 — all at no cost to students and their families. OrchKids is an acknowledged leader in the El Sistema movement throughout the world.

JOB SUMMARY

The OrchKids Latin Ensemble Director is a dynamic educator who leads the Latin Ensemble students who typically range between 6th-12th grade. The Latin Ensemble is a special opportunity to more advanced students who demonstrate dedication to their instrument, consistency in the program, and an interest in committing to the Latin Ensemble rehearsal and performance schedule. The Ensemble Director helps guide the musical development of the program’s ensemble players through weekly rehearsals, sectional plans, and concert performances throughout the year.

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 instrumental skills (i.e. technique, learning challenging repertoire) and fostering creativity (e.g. improvisation and composition). 

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 other pedagogical resources. Support and feedback is also provided through teacher observation, reflection meetings, and regular communication with Program Managers, Director of Education, and Associate Director of Programs. OrchKids Teaching Artists also have the opportunity to participate in a number of student concerts and partake in our unique Collective Composition workshops, during which we work with our students to create and perform new, original music. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead rehearsals of Latin Ensemble in accordance with the OrchKids curricular and educational philosophy as outlined in OrchKids orientations and teacher professional development sessions
• Serve as a consistent and compassionate mentor to OrchKids students
• Hold students to high artistic standards, cultivating both their technical and ensemble skills
• Embrace OrchKids’ mission, goals, and guiding principles
• Perform administrative duties essential to running one’s own classroom, including photocopying, room setup/breakdown, lesson planning, etc. 
• Attend 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
• Creating substitute rehearsal plans if there is a necessary absence 
• Deciding on and communicating ensemble repertoire selection by the agreed-upon deadlines in preparation for each semester
  • Researching and programming diverse and dynamic instrumental Latin styles, and composers, and places of origin
• Additional tasks/responsibilities:
  • Requesting in advance (at least 48 hours) any needs for copying of parts or scores
  • Maintaining the scores and instrumental parts once copies are provided
  • Establish an ensemble rehearsal plan ahead of rehearsal time and communicate it to the Education team and support teachers 
  • Supply requests/maintenance/managing ensemble needs
  • Respond to emails within 48 hours

QUALIFICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES

• Passion for working with youth and desire to serve as a role model to students
• Strong classroom management skills
• Considerable experience teaching beginner – intermediate level students, preferably in an ensemble setting
• In-depth knowledge of beginner to intermediate musical pedagogy and repertoire, especially within Latin genres of music
• 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 
• Punctuality, professionalism and excellent interpersonal skills
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred 

The statements contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences of relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

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. 

HOW TO APPLY 

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

 

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.