String Associate Conductor, Sistema Ravinia Austin Nucleo (Chicago, IL)

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 6-10 hours per week.  Sistema Ravinia programming runs throughout the school year and 3 weeks during the summer. 

The String Associate Conductor leads rehearsals for multiple levels of elementary and middle school orchestras in the Sistema Ravinia Austin nucleo. The children in our program receive little to no music instruction outside of Sistema Ravinia. The administrators, conductors, and instructors are responsible for providing a comprehensive music education program. Sistema Ravinia uses a collaborative leadership approach that solicits input from students, families, instructors, artistic and administrative leadership. Team members will inspire participating students and are responsible for maintaining a standard of excellence. The String Associate Conductor reports to the Program Manager and works closely with the Artistic Manager. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Lead string rehearsals and sectionals, incorporating music theory, with high expectations for musical excellence
• Collaborate with the Sistema Ravinia team to create innovative curriculum and pedagogy and implement shared ideals 
• Develop lesson plans that promote social and musical growth
• Co-facilitate weekly instructor team discussions with Artistic Manager, creating action plans and ensuring that teams are adhering to curriculum
• Participation in faculty professional development sessions is required
• Support daily logistics including recording attendance, snack, and student transitions
• Communicate student behavioral, musical, and social challenges with administration and artistic management
• Foster student empowerment and facilitate the holistic education of each child
• Conduct regular informal and formal assessments of student musical growth
• Lead full orchestra in the event of an absence of the Artistic Manager

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead and conduct large groups of children
• Knowledge of beginning to intermediate instrumental fundamentals, pedagogy, and theory
• 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, parents, and community
• 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

Work Environment

• Working at George Rogers Clark Elementary (1045 S Monitor Ave. Chicago, IL 60644) and the Kehrein Center for the Arts (5628 W Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60644)
• Working three days per week (program hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; 3:15-5:45pm)
  • *Hours are subject to change based on program need and school schedule
• Some additional days, evenings and weekends required for concerts, special activities, and meetings 
• Sistema Ravinia instruction occurs September - May with additional professional learning throughout August/September and possible summer programming throughout June/July 
• Ability to travel to Ravinia (418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035) for performances and professional learning
• Interaction with young students, parents and administrators where the safety of the students is paramount

Compensation: $60 per hour for instructional time and $25 per hour for non-instructional time (meetings, professional learning, and curriculum development)

Please submit the following to apply: