Conservatory Concert Band Director

The Conservatory provides advanced musical training to Chicagoland's most promising and dedicated young musicians who successfully audition for the program. This high-level music education experience is valued at more than $3,500; however, Merit underwrites the cost, and students only need to pay a registration fee to attend the Conservatory.The Concert Band is Merit's entry-level wind band in the Conservatory, consisting of most middle school and early high school students with at least two years of experience on their instruments. All rehearsals occur on Saturday mornings at Merit's Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, located at 38 S. Peoria St., in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood.Qualifications & RequirementsMust-Have CharacteristicsBachelor's degree in music or equivalent experience and training.Demonstrated track record of success teaching wind band literature to students and directing a band ensemble at the middle school or high school level.Effective classroom management and ability to cultivate student leadership skills.A high level of personal musicianship.Punctual, professional, collegial, responsive, and communicative with a flexible and adaptive disposition.Ability to represent Merit professionally in all settings, including counseling families and students to pursue their musical studies at the deepest levels, and acting as an ambassador for the school.A commitment to dignity-centered communication and the ability to connect with Merit's students across varying lines of difference.Ability to reliably travel to Merit.Preferred, But Not RequiredExperience working with staff and administration to support programming.Bilingual or multilingual (Spanish preferred).ResponsibilitiesTeaching and Instruction – 85%Deliver high-quality music instruction commensurate with Merit's curricula, teaching philosophy, mission, and values.Teach weekly band rehearsals to students assigned to the Concert Band in the Conservatory.Prepare the Concert Band for at least two performances throughout the year.Administrative Duties – 15%Attend Merit faculty meetings (typically once a year) and department meetings as scheduled.Assist in the Conservatory audition process by helping to select audition materials, sitting on the audition panel, and ensemble placements of auditioning students.Other projects as assigned.About the OrganizationMerit School of Music is a community music school located in Chicago's West Loop. For more than 40 years, we have been home to a diverse community of talented young musicians and have acted as a springboard for achieving full musical and personal potential. Materials should be compatible with Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.ALAANA/BIPOC people, trans and gender nonconforming people, and women are encouraged to apply.For more information about the Merit School of Music, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..Technology in HiringAt the Merit School of Music, we believe in a human-centered recruitment process.

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