Artistic Director, Music at Reading

About the job

Artistic Director, Music at Reading

Salary: £41,526 pro rata, per annum

Location: Whiteknights Reading UK

Job reference: SRF32046

Hours per week: 0.40 FTE - including evenings and weekends. Some flexibility of hours across term and non-term periods, however this is not solely a term time role.

Music at Reading is proud to promote musicianship, performance and community music-making at the University of Reading and to make this widely available to members of the University, alumni and the local community. We are now seeking to appoint a talented and enthusiastic Music Director to lead and develop Music at Reading by providing a vision for the organisation that achieves this objective, and practical abilities that will advance the department to the next level.   

You will facilitate high quality musical performance in all Music at Reading activities. This will include leading, directing and developing music education support for our members of the musicianship training activities, and to pursue excellence at all levels. You will focus on both students and staff at the University, and the wider community, to develop a department which delivers excellence, and a positive contribution to wider University life, including recruitment.

You will report regularly to the Vice Chancellor’s office and Music Steering group to update on the progress of the Music at Reading vision, plans and progress. You will develop a multiyear strategy and oversee its implementation. This will include developing stronger links with the Student’s Union and their own music activities, and developing our orchestral capabilities.

You will be professional, adaptable and a strong leader. Flexibility in your ways of working is key, in order to undertake the duties of this role, as naturally, it involves evening and weekend working for rehearsals and performances.

We are looking for:

• A minimum of an undergraduate Music Degree or equivalent, with Masters level or equivalent being highly desirable, with emphasis on performance and/or ensemble directing.
• Experience of directing, and developing, music programs in education institutions, with experience in HE desirable.
• Professional experience as an ensemble director and/or conductor including working with community groups and advanced level groups.
• Good professional level piano and accompaniment skills appropriate to leading rehearsal and coaching soloists.
• Professional experience of repertoire development for a range of instrumental and vocal ensembles.  
• You should have professional experience of leadership in a music organisation including timetabling and scheduling rehearsals and performances, managing large scale musical events, managing a team of directors and tutors.
• A person able to positively influence students, senior staff at the University and the wider community.
• A person able to effectively manage a small team comprising one full time team member and a number of ensemble leaders.

Closing date: 7^th April 2020