Music Director - The Dessoff Choirs (NYC)

Date: July 20, 2009

Location: New York, New York, USA

Duties and Responsibilities

The Music Director is responsible for the artistic direction and development of The Dessoff Choirs. The Music Director works with the Board of Directors and the Executive Director to provide an extraordinary musical experience for singers and audience alike within the fiscal realities of the non-profit organization. S/he proposes season repertoire, plans and directs rehearsals, conducts performances, and prepares the chorus for outside engagements. The Music Director auditions prospective singers and re-auditions current singers annually. S/he works with the Executive Director to engage vocal soloists, instrumentalists, and orchestral contractors, and is expected to participate in the social/ marketing/ fundraising life of the chorus such that it furthers the mission and goals of The Dessoff Choirs.

The Ideal Candidate

Dessoff is looking for an experienced choral conductor who works well with skilled avocational

singers and can also inspire soloists and instrumental musicians in performance. Solid vocal technique and some proficiency in at least two foreign languages are important, as well as the desire and ability to help the chorus reach its marketing and development goals. The Music Director must be able to work effectively in a broad range of musical styles from all periods of music history, and to lead the members to develop their best musical selves, individually and as an ensemble. Contacts in the greater New York metropolitan musical community that can benefit the chorus's artistic and financial goals, and/or the ability to develop such contacts, are vital.

Chorus Description

The Dessoff Choirs is a respected New York City avocational chorus of 70-80 singers, now in its 85^th year. Dessoff presents a broad repertoire, with an emphasis on less-performed works. Typically the season consists of three subscription concerts and one or more engagements with major orchestras (e.g. the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, the American Symphony Orchestra) or other performing ensembles (e.g., Mark Morris Dance Group, Tan Dun, the Kronos Quartet). The group has appeared with eminent conductors Lorin Maazel, Alan Gilbert, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Dennis Russell Davies, Nicholas McGegan, Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph von Dohnanyi and many others. Administratively, Dessoff is self-governed and self-supporting, and members are actively engaged. The chorus has just appointed its first Executive Director.

Compensation: Part-time salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience; additional

compensation is negotiated for engagements with orchestras.

Deadline: Applications must be received no later than October 1, 2009. The new Music Director is to begin with the 2010-2011 season.

To Apply

Candidates should supply only a resume or c.v., a 1-2 page cover letter describing their interest

in and qualifications for the position, three representative recent concert programs and contact

information for two references: one professional colleague and one avocational singer. E-mail

only the above materials as attached files in PDF, Microsoft Word or rich text format to

search@dessoff.org. Additional materials will be requested as needed. All applications will be reviewed in confidence.