Collaborative Pianist

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

 

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

The Staff Collaborative Pianist accompanies students in lessons (and/or ensembles) and accompanies and coaches those students between lessons. Performances associated with this work may include choral ensemble concerts, student recitals, opera workshop, and occasional other programs such as the composition concert. 

Work scheduling for this position is the duty of the Director of Collaborative Piano, and may include evenings/weekends. This position offers variable hours, up to 350 for the spring semester during the Academic Year (defined as August - May). This position begins January 21, 2025 and ends May 20, 2025, pending funding and redesign of the position.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Attend and play piano for applied lessons as scheduled, and extra rehearsals when needed, to collaborate with the student(s) in the presence of the primary instructor.
• Accompany studio class(es) each week.
• Collaborate with students during performances and juries, including when regular student collaborators are not available for juries.
• Prepare the collaborative piano part in a reasonable amount of time, which depends on the technical difficulty of the collaborative part.
• Collaborate with prospective students during scholarship auditions, if needed.
• Collaborate with Chorale and Chamber Singers at rehearsals and performances. Travel with and accompany students at conferences and competitions as needed.
• Collaborate with Opera & Music Theater Workshop rehearsals and performances.
• Travel with and accompany students at conferences and competitions as needed.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Excellent piano skills, including sight reading and score reading. 
• Excellent collaborative/accompanying skills.
• Excellent performing skills.
• Ability to positively contribute to the College’s core values of diversity, equity,
  inclusion and antiracism.
• Demonstrated ability to work in close cooperation with faculty and students.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Strong communication skills with both students and faculty members.
• Flexibility necessary to handle unforeseen emergencies and problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated piano and collaborative piano skills OR equivalent professional collaborative experience.  
• Must be available to work evenings and weekends.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate degree in Music, Piano Performance or Collaborative Piano.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits progra