Assistant Professor of the Practice, Organ and Sacred Music

Description

The University of Notre Dame seeks a versatile organist and church musician for a 3/4-time faculty appointment in graduate program Sacred Music Notre Dame (SMND), beginning July 2025. The candidate will be appointed at the level of Assistant Professor of the Practice (non-tenure-track). 

 

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished organist and church musician and an experienced teacher, with a developing national and international profile. The new hire will teach secondary organ lessons to voice and choral conducting students in Sacred Music Notre Dame (SMND). Additional teaching responsibilities in SMND will include two graduate courses in organ

literature and a course, geared towards parish or cathedral church musicians, that addresses liturgical planning, administration, and other aspects of the profession.  The successful candidate will also teach undergraduate organ majors and/or secondary organ lessons in the Department of Music BA music major program.  They will work in close collaboration with Professor Kola Owolabi, who teaches the graduate organ studio in SMND, hymn playing and improvisation. Skills and teaching experience in other areas, such as improvisation and African American hymnody, are desirable.

 

Professors of the Practice allocate the majority of their time to teaching, with still significant time devoted to performance/research.  With this position, it is hoped that the successful candidate will maintain some connection to the practical field of church music.  

 

The University of Notre Dame has an impressive collection of organs including the German baroque style organ by Paul Fritts, Opus 24 (2004, II/34) in Reyes Organ and Choral Hall in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, the Murdy Family organ by Paul Fritts, Opus 37 (2017, IV/70) in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a 5-stop 17th century Neapolitan organ, and practice organs by Schreiner, Holtkamp, Gober and Ruggles.  

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff, and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace. We strongly encourage applications from female and minority candidates and those attracted to a university with a Catholic mission. Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals and requires affirmative action by covered contractors to employ and advance veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a DMA or equivalent terminal degree, or be ABD with a near completion date. 

Application Instructions

For full consideration, please submit your application materials via this link, http://apply.interfolio.com/150929 by December 1, 2024. Review of applications will begin on December 2, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled.

●      C.V.

●      Cover letter outlining teaching experience and approach

●      Three letters of reference

●      Two sample video recordings or tracks from commercial audio recordings (submitted as downloadable links)

 
Additional materials, such as sample video recordings of teaching and additional performing, may be requested after an initial review.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration.  The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace.  We strongly encourage applications from female and minority candidates and those candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.  Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and requires affirmative action by covered contractors to employ and advance veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a).

Background Check 

This appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.  Applicants will be asked to identify all felony convictions and/or pending felony charges.  Felony convictions do not automatically bar an individual from employment.  Each case will be examined separately to determine the appropriateness of employment in the particular position.  Failure to be forthcoming or dishonesty with respect to felony disclosures can result in the disqualification of a candidate.  The full procedure can be viewed at htt