Director of Music

About the job

The Director of Music is principally responsible for the development and delivery of extra-curricular Music and for the recruitment and development of Music Scholars.

 Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities 

The Director of Music is expected: 

• To ensure the delivery of a programme of musical performances both by and for Stowe pupils to both encourage wide participation in Music and also to showcase and develop excellence. 

• To develop short, medium and long-term strategic plans for raising the profile and success of the Music Department and the use of The Chung Music School. 

• To manage the Heads of Section (Head of Instrumental, Head of Keyboard, Head of Voice) in their delivery of the extra-curricular lessons and choirs, bands and orchestras. 

• To recruit Music Scholars and Music Exhibitioners into the School and to oversee their musical education and development (and help them to manage their range of commitments). 

• To ensure the organisation and excellence of all instrumental lessons by Peripatetic music teachers. 

• To encourage, manage and support the professional development of staff within the Department and promote a professional and positive working atmosphere that encourages co-operation and values the contributions that individuals make to the work of the Music Department. 

• To enthuse both staff and pupils about Music in all forms. 

Key Tasks: 

1 Main duties 

• To promote and oversee the management of the wide range of musical groups / activities at Stowe: Orchestra, String Orchestra, Wind Band, Swing Band, Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Stowe Choral Society, Senior Jazz Combo, Junior Jazz Combo and numerous brass, wind and string ensembles, Horn Quartet, Clarinet Quartet, 2 Flute Groups and 2 String Quartets. 

• To direct the Orchestra, Chapel Choir and the Chamber Choir. 

• To engage regularly and proactively with prep and primary schools. This should include the organisation of hosting events and opportunities at Stowe for prep and primary schools, as well as going out to these schools to offer masterclasses and judge competitions. 

• To actively recruit and then support Music Scholars and Exhibitioners and ensure they are developing musically and contributing positively to the musical life of the School. 

• To work with the Director of Drama on School dramatic performances and musicals. 

• To work with the CEO of Arts at Stowe to develop a programme of concerts for the benefit of the school and the wider community 

• To work with and promote Music events in term and holiday periods. 

• To manage the department budget as agreed, annually, with the Finance Director and the Deputy Head (Academic). 

• To line manage the Heads of Section, Music Administrator and Studio Manager and ensure they carry out their professional duties; particularly, the management of their Music groups; conducting Job Chats, Lesson observations and monitoring of peripatetic music teachers; supporting and monitoring Music Scholars and Exhibitioners and pupil attendance in their Sections. 

• To advise pupil musicians on careers and degrees at Universities and Conservatoires. 

2 Chapel 

• To liaise with the School Chaplain and to provide the music (organ and choir) to accompany the liturgy in Chapel weekdays and Sundays and at other special School occasions, e.g. Remembrance Day, the two whole School and parent Carol Services, the Prep & Primary School Choral Day and Services of Confirmation. 

3 Concerts, Recitals & Masterclasses 

• To organise and publicise the regular weekly pupil concerts arranging programmes and room bookings. 

• To organise events and concerts with guest musicians and department staff. 

• To organise the Stowe Festival Orchestra and Stowe Choral Society for special concerts, Speech Day and Instrumental and Vocal Festival Days. 

• To organise the annual Mozart Trio Prize Competition. 

4 Instruments 

• To arrange for the maintenance and good order of School musical instruments including the School pianos and Chapel Organs. 

5 Other 

• If qualified and experienced to do so, to teach a timetable, as agreed by the Head of Academic Music and the Deputy Head (Academic). 

• To work with the Senior Deputy Head, Deputy Head (Academic) and others on the Calendar Committee. 

• To be responsible for the training, adherence to and management of appropriate Health & Safety, risk assessments and Child Protection and safeguarding training issues related to the Department. 

• To promote staff development, for example, by delegating responsibilities within the Department to ensure career and professional development. 

• To ensure compliance of all staff with the current Teaching Staff Handbook. 

6 General Duties 

• To take responsibility for the educational, social, pastoral and moral welfare of pupils in the context of Stowe's boarding community. 

• If a Junior School Tutor, to assist the Houseparent of the House to which he/she is assigned as required by the Head. For Junior School Tutors, this will normally involve a regular, weekly evening duty supervising pupils, occasional supervision of early prep and some weekend events as needed. If a Sixth Form Tutor, to monitor the academic progress of a group of Sixth Form pupils and to assist with all aspects of their planning and applications for Higher Education. This will normally involve meeting with them individually every week or every other week. 

• To provide guidance and advice to tutees assigned to him/her, 

How to Apply 

An application form can be downloaded from our website: www.stowe.co.uk/careers-at-stowe 

Please select the Stowe School teaching positions application form and return this to: recruitment@stowe.co.uk 

For any questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the People team on: 01280 818005 

Salary: Dependent on Experience 

Closing Date: 18 September 2022 

Proposed Interview Date: W/C 26 September 2022