Band Associate Conductor, Sistema Ravinia Austin (Chicago, IL)

at  Ravinia

Company Description
Ravinia is both North America’s longest-running music festival and its most artistically diverse. Over 100 different events by a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers make up a typical summer season on our two open-air and two indoor stages. Each year the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is featured in six weeks of concerts, many with Chief Conductor Marin Alsop. During the same summer months, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute provides young professional classical and jazz musicians with career-advancing training and concert settings. Offstage and year-round, Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play education programs engage 75,000 children and adults—in schools with little to no music curriculum, in our Chicagoland communities, and at our 36-acre park—in our mission to make music equitably accessible to all.
Job Description
This role is a part-time, hourly instructional employee position that averages 6-8 hours per week. Sistema Ravinia programming runs throughout the school year and 3-4 weeks during the summer.
The Band Associate Conductor will lead the social and musical development for multiple levels of beginning bands consisting of elementary and middle school students participating in the Sistema Ravinia Austin nucleo (located at Catalyst Circle Rock in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood). Sistema Ravinia uses a collaborative leadership approach that solicits input from instructors, students, artistic and administrative leadership to provide a comprehensive music education program for our students. The Band Associate Conductor reports to the Program Manager and will be part of a team of instructors that will inspire all participating students and be responsible for maintaining a standard of excellence for Sistema Ravinia.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Outstanding understanding of beginning and intermediate level wind, brass, and percussion pedagogy
• Strong conducting skills
• Enthusiasm for El Sistema and its philosophy of social change through music
• Interest and ability to be a motivational mentor and role model for students
• Ability to develop strong relationships with students, parents, school partners, and outside community members
• Superior interpersonal skills

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Strong background in conducting, band repertoire, curriculum, pedagogy, and music education at the 4th-8th grade level
• Experience working with young children, youth orchestras or in the El Sistema music education model
• Bachelor’s degree in music or 2-3 years related work experience
  Additional Information

• Lead engaging band rehearsals with high expectations for musical excellence
• Lead woodwind, brass, and/or percussion sectionals
• Ensure curricular alignment in large ensemble rehearsals
• Facilitate with a team of teachers daily transitions on site including student movement between snack time, rehearsals, and dismissal
• Communicate student behavioral, musical, and social challenges with administration
• Foster student empowerment and facilitate the holistic education of each child
• Engage students through the development of creative lesson plans that promote social and musical growth
• Active participation in faculty professional and curriculum development sessions.
• Conduct regular informal and formal assessments of student musical growth
• Collaborate with the Sistema Ravinia administration, full orchestra conductor, other associate conductors, and instructors to select appropriate repertoire for the orchestras, create and implement shared ideals, and develop innovative curriculum and pedagogy.
• Lead full orchestra in the event of an absence of the full orchestra conductor
  Qualifications