THE ORGANIZATION
The Stratford Concert choir is seeking its next Artistic Director. The genesis of the choir is in 1952 when a group of singers came together to support the opening season of the Stratford Festival Theatre in 1953. Since then, SCC has become an adult choir of approximately 60 to 80 voices, which offers up to four public programs a year performing repertoire of the great “classical” composers from the 1600’s to present day accompanied by piano, organ or small orchestra. A favourite program has been an annual performance in December of Handel’s The Messiah with guest soloists from across the country and chamber orchestra comprised of local talented musicians.
In 2017 The SCC was the recipient of a large Trillium Grant (Ontario) enabling the expansion of our library and its ability to be a lending library for many community choirs and organizations throughout southern Ontario.
The Vision and Mission Statement for the SCC is: Sharing great choral music. Our Mission Statement is: Grow public awareness and enjoyment of music by: presenting a diverse program of great choral works; developing singers to a high standard of performance; collaborating with other arts organizations.
THE POSITION
The role of Artistic Director of the Stratford Concert Choir is a part-time, paid position, with an annual contract and competitive remuneration to be negotiated. The AD is the custodian of the organization’s artistic vision, responsible for planning each year’s concert season – including both self-presented and collaborative projects. The AD programs repertoire, recruits and auditions singers, helps to manage budgets, and negotiates with productions partners. The AD directs the choir’s weekly rehearsals (currently Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30), prepares and conducts the choir for all its public performances.
Together with the Board of Directors/Executive Team, the Artistic Director will handle many of the Stratford Concert Choir’s administrative responsibilities. These include grant-writing, fund-raising, communications, marketing, promotion etc. The Board is currently considering alternative operating models after having recently gone through a Strategic Planning process. The Search Committee will wish to discuss these with candidates.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate for this position will be someone with a strong passion for, and a deep knowledge of, choral music of all periods and genres – including contemporary repertoire. This person will have significant choral conducting experience, as well as a history of planning and executing exciting, innovative concert programs and seasons that attract audiences and create memorable musical experiences.
This person will possess outstanding musicianship, demonstrate strong rehearsal skills, and provide inspiring musical leadership in performance. The successful candidate will have the ability to identify and attract excellent singers and help them reach their full potential as an ensemble. Knowledge of, and connections with, the local and Canadian choral scene is desirable. The individual we seek is visionary, energetic imaginative, personable and well organized, capable of being the public face of the Stratford Concert Choir and leading it into its next phase of growth and development.
THE PROCESS
Interested applicants should contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Jill Wright: [email protected]. Please submit a CV and a cover letter explaining why you feel you would be a good fit for this position. Links to video and/or audio examples of your choral conducting work, in rehearsal and/or in performance are also welcomed.
The deadline for submissions is at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 1, 2021. Short-listed candidates will need to be available for in-person second-round interviews and auditions during the fall.
Please note: While we appreciate the time and effort put into all applications, only some applicants will be contacted to move forward in the selection process. Candidates will be considered without regard to race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, family status, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, or political belief. We are only able to consider applicants who are currently legally permitted to work in Canada.
The Stratford Concert choir is seeking its next Artistic Director. The genesis of the choir is in 1952 when a group of singers came together to support the opening season of the Stratford Festival Theatre in 1953. Since then, SCC has become an adult choir of approximately 60 to 80 voices, which offers up to four public programs a year performing repertoire of the great “classical” composers from the 1600’s to present day accompanied by piano, organ or small orchestra. A favourite program has been an annual performance in December of Handel’s The Messiah with guest soloists from across the country and chamber orchestra comprised of local talented musicians.
In 2017 The SCC was the recipient of a large Trillium Grant (Ontario) enabling the expansion of our library and its ability to be a lending library for many community choirs and organizations throughout southern Ontario.
The Vision and Mission Statement for the SCC is: Sharing great choral music. Our Mission Statement is: Grow public awareness and enjoyment of music by: presenting a diverse program of great choral works; developing singers to a high standard of performance; collaborating with other arts organizations.
THE POSITION
The role of Artistic Director of the Stratford Concert Choir is a part-time, paid position, with an annual contract and competitive remuneration to be negotiated. The AD is the custodian of the organization’s artistic vision, responsible for planning each year’s concert season – including both self-presented and collaborative projects. The AD programs repertoire, recruits and auditions singers, helps to manage budgets, and negotiates with productions partners. The AD directs the choir’s weekly rehearsals (currently Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30), prepares and conducts the choir for all its public performances.
Together with the Board of Directors/Executive Team, the Artistic Director will handle many of the Stratford Concert Choir’s administrative responsibilities. These include grant-writing, fund-raising, communications, marketing, promotion etc. The Board is currently considering alternative operating models after having recently gone through a Strategic Planning process. The Search Committee will wish to discuss these with candidates.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate for this position will be someone with a strong passion for, and a deep knowledge of, choral music of all periods and genres – including contemporary repertoire. This person will have significant choral conducting experience, as well as a history of planning and executing exciting, innovative concert programs and seasons that attract audiences and create memorable musical experiences.
This person will possess outstanding musicianship, demonstrate strong rehearsal skills, and provide inspiring musical leadership in performance. The successful candidate will have the ability to identify and attract excellent singers and help them reach their full potential as an ensemble. Knowledge of, and connections with, the local and Canadian choral scene is desirable. The individual we seek is visionary, energetic imaginative, personable and well organized, capable of being the public face of the Stratford Concert Choir and leading it into its next phase of growth and development.
THE PROCESS
Interested applicants should contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Jill Wright: [email protected]. Please submit a CV and a cover letter explaining why you feel you would be a good fit for this position. Links to video and/or audio examples of your choral conducting work, in rehearsal and/or in performance are also welcomed.
The deadline for submissions is at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 1, 2021. Short-listed candidates will need to be available for in-person second-round interviews and auditions during the fall.
Please note: While we appreciate the time and effort put into all applications, only some applicants will be contacted to move forward in the selection process. Candidates will be considered without regard to race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, family status, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, or political belief. We are only able to consider applicants who are currently legally permitted to work in Canada.