Assistant Professor of Music, Orchestra Conductor/Director of Orchestral Activit

Assistant Professor of Music, Orchestra Conductor/Director of Orchestral Activities (T/TE)

Posting Number: req24822

Department: School of Music

Location: Main Campus, Tucson, AZ USA

The University of Arizona School of Music invites applications for Assistant Professor of Music – Orchestra Conductor/Director of Orchestral Activities (full‑time, 9‑month, tenure track). The successful candidate will be an inspirational and dynamic visionary artist with a growing record of sustained excellence in musicianship through orchestra performance, teaching and scholarship at the university level; demonstrated success providing leadership or administrative oversight within an orchestra program at the university level; work collaboratively with faculty and students; recruit and teach outstanding undergraduate and graduate students; create/maintain an active national profile as a conductor, scholar, and pedagogue; teach graduate orchestral conducting and literature, weekly seminar and lessons for MM and DMA students; and related duties as assigned by the Director of the school.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; sick leave and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocation services, click here.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Embed the Provost’s Academic Success Goals, prioritizing “Success for Every Student,” in all teaching and mentoring activities.
• Conduct Arizona Symphony Orchestra, the premier orchestral ensemble of the School of Music, and Philharmonic Orchestra, mentoring graduate teaching assistants for both ensembles.
• Conduct opera productions and collaborate on choral‑orchestral works.
• Teach graduate students in orchestral conducting, literature, and related courses, including weekly lessons for MM and DMA students and a weekly seminar with the full conducting studio.
• Supervise the graduate degree program in orchestral conducting, including qualification, comprehensive, and dissertation examinations, and mentor students through degree completion and professional placement.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to student success.
• Provide artistic and administrative leadership for the orchestral program and collaborate closely with other faculty in program planning, recruitment, and outreach.
• Maintain an active national profile as a conductor, scholar, and pedagogue.
• Work collaboratively with faculty and staff across the School of Music and the College of Fine Arts to advance performance, research, and service initiatives.
• Build and sustain partnerships and outreach with public and private schools, community organizations, and professional musicians.
• Duties as assigned by the Director of the School of Music.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Current knowledge of orchestral repertoire and performance practice.
• Effective rehearsal and conducting techniques and skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills that contribute to a respectful work environment.
• Ability to support the university’s efforts to build and sustain a vibrant respectful workplace.
• Ability to create imaginative/innovative concert programs.
• Ability to develop strategies in defining and supporting the future direction of the orchestra program.
• Ability to utilize and implement new pedagogies and classroom strategies to advance comprehensive learning opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability or potential for scholarly, creative, and/or research activity appropriate to rank.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA or PhD) in Orchestra Conducting or similar from an accredited institution of higher education or commensurate professional experience.
• Minimum of three years of successful collegiate experience as an artist, teacher, and scholar of orchestral music.
• Minimum of two years of leadership or administrative oversight within an orchestral program at the university, professional, or festival level.
• Minimum of two years of experience conducting choral ensembles and opera rehearsals and performances in support of collaborative performances.
• Experience in orchestral conducting, teaching, mentoring, and graduating outstanding orchestra conducting students at the collegiate or professional level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Examples of success in recruiting, mentoring, and graduating outstanding orchestral conducting students from varied musical, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
• Three years teaching graduate students.
• Evidence of effective collaboration within academic and professional settings.
• Evidence of professional recognition as an orchestra conductor, scholar, or pedagogue and potential for national or international recognition.
• Provide evidence of additional teaching strengths.
• Active engagement with appropriate professional music organizations.

Special Instructions to Applicant

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Letter of Interest describing why you are interested in the position, how you are qualified for the position, and artistic, pedagogical, and forward‑thinking vision for leading a comprehensive university orchestral program.
• Curriculum Vitae detailing teaching, conducting, scholarly, and professional experience plus a repertoire list of works conducted in concert.
• Philosophy of Teaching statement (one to two pages) describing your goals as an educator, relevant pedagogical training and overall approach to mentoring and educating students with varying backgrounds, interest, abilities, and prior experience.
• One Representative Syllabus from a recent course taught.
• Three Letters of Recommendation; names and contact information to enter into the application system.
• Contact Information for Five References who may be contacted later in the search process.
• Video Portfolio (one‑page PDF with active, private links) with camera showing the conductor’s face, containing recent, live, unedited footage, including:
  • Approximately 15‑20 minutes of rehearsal,
  • 15‑20 minutes of performance of contrasting works, and
  • 10 minutes of an orchestral literature, or similar, lecture.

Contact Information for Candidates: Dr. Angelo Versace
aversacet@arizona.edu

Open Date: 12/23/2025