Artistic Director

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Job description

Timeline:

• Application deadline - January 7, 2022
• Committee selection of top candidates - January 2022
• Initial interview for selected candidates - February 2022
• Top candidates will be scheduled to direct a piece with the chorus - March 2022
• Chorus members surveyed for comments - March 2022
• Recommendation of leading candidate to KCWC Board - April 2022
• Contract Offer - April 2022
• Employment contract begins - July 2022

Who We Are: The Kansas City Women's Chorus is Kansas City's only regional women's chorus inspiring through performance, embracing diversity, and advocating social justice.

Mission Statement: The Kansas City Women's Chorus is a catalyst for change, pushing ourselves and our audiences beyond what is thought possible. Simply singing is not enough.

Vision Statement: We achieve our mission by increasing community awareness and support, fostering performance excellence, and strengthening as well as nurturing volunteer relationships.

The Kansas City Women's Chorus holds as its CORE VALUES:

ARTISTRY - We work for the highest level of artistry through a diverse and challenging array of music, text, and production elements.

INTEGRITY - We operate with integrity, promoting honesty and transparency, treating individuals with fairness and respect and honoring our commitments.

SOCIAL JUSTICE - We are committed to social justice creating awareness of community issues and partnering our music and actions to address these needs.

WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND AFFIRMING - We are welcoming, inclusive, and affirming of singers and non-singers who are interested in sharing their talents in support of our mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Artistic Vision: Create an artistic vision for the organization that supports and advances our mission. Strategize with the Board of Directors and staff on the implementation and execution.

• Artistic Growth:
  • Ensure overall artistic quality of the Chorus by facilitating the growth of artistic staff, section leaders and chorus members.
  • Contribute to the strategic planning of the organization regarding the artistic product and brand, musical needs of the organization, and growth of the artistic staff.
  • In consultation with the Executive Director, ensure that an evaluation is conducted of each subscription concert.
  • Investigate and consider opportunities to commission new works, and opportunities to collaborate with other artists/organizations.

• Season Plan: Develop and produce a season plan, preferably 12-18 months in advance, including repertoire selection and production elements. Conduct subscription concerts and performances.

• Performance Outreach: In consultation with the Executive Director and within the framework of the mission, plan specific performances, spring education concert, musical collaborations, tours, and recordings for Kansas City Women's Chorus.

• Auditions: Audition prospective members, and periodically reevaluate continuing members of the chorus.

• Rehearsals:
  • Rehearse and prepare the Chorus for all performances.
  • Ensure the integrity of rehearsal time conducted by substitute artistic staff should it be necessary for the Artistic Director to miss a rehearsal.
  • Conduct at least two weekend day-long rehearsals per concert cycle.
  • Ensure the timely delivery of rehearsal tracks prior to first rehearsal.

• Administrative and Supervisory:
  • Develop the annual production budget in collaboration with the Board of Directors and Executive Director.
  • Assign duties, supervise, monitor quality, and evaluate all music and production staff and performance groups under the KCWC brand, as well as contracted guest performers, such as vocalists, instrumentalists, choreographers, dancers, and narrators.
  • Attend meetings of the Board of Directors and serve as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Board.
  • Regularly report to the Board and Executive Director regarding pertinent artistic and administrative issues.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director, the Marketing Committee or their representatives regarding promotional material issued by the organization.

• Community Engagement:
  • Attend and actively participate in all fundraising events to support the Executive Director and Fund Development Committee.
  • Network/represent the Kansas City Women's Chorus to the general public, the news media, and the arts community.
  • Represent the Chorus with relevant professional organizations such as GALA, ACDA, and Chorus America.

• Working Conditions:
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work indoors, but may on occasion perform outdoors. May be exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels at times, such as during rehearsals. May work physically close to others. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk, listen, and use repetitive motions with arms and hands. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus or the ability to compensate appropriately if a vision impairment exists.

This position description is a record of major aspects of the job but is not an all-inclusive description. Additional responsibilities may be required to support the organization.

In early 2022, selected candidates will be required to submit the following:

• A proposed outline for a season of concerts consisting of two major performances - fall/winter and spring.
• Two video recordings of performances conducted demonstrating musical artistry and diversity (YouTube links are acceptable).
• Any additional materials you believe will support your application (e.g. samples of arrangements or compositions, audio recordings of performances, etc.).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kansas City Women's Chorus Investments is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and all other applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. As such, Kansas City Women's Chorus strives to provide reasonable accommodation to any qualified individual under the ADA to perform essential job functions.

Kansas City Women's Chorus believes all individuals are entitled to equal employment opportunity and advancement opportunities without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age for individuals forty years of age and older, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. KCWC does not discriminate or adopt any policy that discriminates against an individual or any group of individuals on any of these bases.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Master's Degree in Music/Choral Conducting. A combination of education and/or comparable work experience will be considered in lieu of educational requirements.
• Demonstrates understanding of, and proficiency in, vocal technique, especially those for adult female voices.
• Established reputation in choral conducting, preferably with women's voices.
• Demonstrates knowledge of classical, contemporary, and concert music repertoire (particularly in women's choral music, music with Social Justice Themes, and/or music of the GALA and LGBTQIA movement).
• Experience in theatrical production including staging, choreography and technical elements.
• Positive leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Takes initiative to create positive networks.
• Demonstrates ability to work with the general public, the news media, arts community and choral community.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and financial targets.
• Demonstrated understanding of the role that arts and culture play in social change.
• Competent piano/keyboard skills desirable.

Preferred Traits and Characteristics

A leader who is:

• Dynamic and inspiring
• Creative and innovative
• Welcoming, supportive and nurturing
• Collaborative and inclusive
• A Community partner and social justice-minded
• Qualities of personal discipline and integrity

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Master's Degree