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Applications were accepted through December 31, 2011. Submission of applications is now closed.
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Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus is seeking a new Artistic Director. The new Artistic Director – only the sixth in the Chorus’s 31 year history – will take the reins August 1, 2012 from Dr. Stan Hill, who will be retiring after his twelfth season leading the highly respected chorus.
Based in the artistically rich Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, the 145-voice principal chorus of TCGMC is among the country’s most respected men’s choruses and one of the largest choruses in GALA, the international Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, of which it is a member.
TCGMC is an integral part of the Twin Cities’ cultural scene with its rich choral tradition, including collaborations with Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, VocalEssence, Ballet of the Dolls, James Sewell Ballet, and such noted gay and lesbian entertainers Harvey Fierstein, Ann Hampton Callaway, Michael Feinstein, Holly Near, and Margaret Cho. In 2009, the Chorus premiered its most-recent commission, I Want More Life (music by Michael Shaieb and words from Tony Kushner’s Angels in America), which the Chorus performed four times at the Guthrie Theater during its 10-week Kushner Celebration, honoring the Pulitzer-winning playwright. Additionally, TCGMC has premiered over 25 commissions from composers such as Steven Paulus and Craig Carnahan and has performed at ACDA, the Grand Ole Opry, and international GALA festivals in Montreal, Tampa, Denver, Miami, Seattle, San Jose, and Minneapolis (which TCGMC hosted in 1986).
True to its mission, “Gay men building community through music,” TCGMC regularly undertakes outreach performances throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, in addition to its regular season concert series—which boasts one of the largest season subscriber bases of any GALA chorus.
The Artistic Director’s Position and Duties and Responsibilities
The Artistic Director position is full time. Salary will be commensurate based on experience. TCGMC offers a benefits package that includes health and disability insurance and a retirement plan.
The following are the primary duties and responsibilities of the Artistic Director:
1. Performance Functions:
- Oversee the artistic health and growth of the Chorus in accordance with the Chorus’s mission, vision, operating budget, and strategic plan;
- Organize an annual performance schedule including subscription concerts, outreach performances, and tours;
- Design each concert performance including theme development and integration of guest artists, ensembles, soloists, instrumentalists, and visual elements;
- Research music and programming to bring to the Chorus performance material that is both challenging and appropriate to the artistic goals of the organization;
- Audition prospective new members;
- Audition, select, and coach soloists and smaller groups of singers;
- Conduct the Chorus in all performances and regular weekly and special ad-hoc rehearsals;
- Oversee the arrangement of music;
- Oversee the technical and production elements of performances, including sets, costumes and attire for all performances.
2. Administrative Functions:
- Work with the Executive Director and the Board to establish an operating plan and budget to execute the artistic vision;
- Attend Board meetings and provide a monthly report to the Board.
- Serve as principal liaison between the Board of Directors and the artistic staff;
- Assist the Executive Director with appeals to financial donors;
- In partnership with the Executive Director, participate in the GLBT and larger community activities to develop networks and identify opportunities to further the mission;
- Supervise and evaluate part-time music staff;
- Select and supervise section leaders;
- Oversee and maintain the music library;
- Administer TCGMC’s commissioning guidelines including the selection of composer/lyricist, assisting with contract negotiations, and managing the process to performance;
- Participate effectively in meetings of the Board of Directors, committees as requested, season and budgeting planning and other activities as necessary to support the execution of the artistic vision;
- Maintain office hours appropriate to accomplish the job responsibilities.
3. Communication and Partnership Functions:
- Work with the Executive Director to ensure a consistent and appropriate public image in all internal and external communications;
- Seek input from and collaborate with singing membership to implement the artistic vision of the Chorus;
- Broaden the involvement of the Chorus in the community by serving as a spokesperson and liaison on behalf of the Chorus; and
- Maintain healthy communication with staff, membership, Board and community members.
4. Outreach Functions:
- Seek opportunities for the Chorus to perform outside of scheduled concerts;
- Manage communication, logistics, and planning details for outreach performances;
- Develop an outreach concert repertoire consistent with the artistic vision and the Chorus’s mission; and
- Conduct the Chorus in all outreach concerts.
5. Recording Functions:
- Schedule new recordings as part of the artistic vision;
- Develop recording content;
- Organize recording operations and design; and
- Oversee the licensing of music for performances and recordings
6. Professional Development Functions:
- Participate in professional choral organizations, such as GALA Choruses, American Choral Director’s Association, etc.
- Develop and maintain relationships with professional colleagues by participating in and conducting workshops, clinics, conventions and festivals, etc.; and
- Other activities to nurture continued skill enhancement.
Qualifications
Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Music or equivalent experience is required; high level of training in choral conducting in the community setting; expertise in vocal technique, languages, and choral diction; and experience in orchestral conducting preferred.
Application Materials
Applications were due December 31, 2011 to be considered. To apply for the Artistic Director position, TCGMC requested the following:
- A letter of introduction;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Samples of programming for previous concerts;
- Samples of recordings of previous concerts (video preferred);
- A proposed program for TCGMC’s Holiday, Spring, and Pride concerts, each of which contains 70-90 minutes of music; and
- Other materials that may support your application, including musical compositions or arrangements, etc.
Questions should be addressed to search@tcgmc.org.
