Music Director / Conductor

Position Overview

The Music Director serves as the artistic and musical leader of the ensemble, responsible for shaping the band’s artistic vision, elevating musical excellence, and fostering a positive, inclusive, and engaging experience for adult volunteer musicians. This role combines technical skill, artistic leadership, musician development, community engagement, and collaboration with the Board of Directors to ensure the continued growth, visibility, and impact of the band.

The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of concert band repertoire, strong rehearsal and conducting skills, and the ability to inspire musicians while building community through music. The Music Director also plays a key role in supporting the band’s culture of social connection.

Key Responsibilities

Artistic Leadership

Plan, program, and conduct high‑quality concerts that are engaging for both performers and audiences.Select and program repertoire across diverse styles, genres, and difficulty levels, using the available budget and resources (PCB Library, local institution libraries, etc.) to ensure variety, appropriate challenge, and strong audience appeal.Interpret musical scores with clarity and intention, guiding tempo, phrasing, balance, and expression to honor the composer’s intent.Maintain high artistic standards while creating an environment that supports growth, camaraderie, and enjoyment. Rehearsal Direction

Prepare scores and lead weekly rehearsals that are well organized and enjoyable.Manage rehearsals that optimize musical progress and use time effectively.Provide constructive feedback to improve musicianship and ensemble cohesion.Work effectively with all sections, demonstrating strong knowledge of instrument capabilities, ensemble balance, and high performance standards. Organizational Partnership

Collaborate with the Board of Directors on concert planning and production, season programming, potential guest artists, and other organizational needs.Attend board meetings as an advisory-only member and communicate proactively about band needs, schedules, and artistic considerations.Manage the Music Director budget in accordance with financial guidelines set by the Board of Directors; communicate proactively regarding budget matters.

Collaborate with Section Leaders to guide musical standards and performance, including partnering on musician development, section needs, and auditions.

Work with librarians to ensure timely preparation and distribution of music. Organization Leadership

Participate in recruitment strategies to attract and retain musician members.Assist with contingency planning for schedule changes or operational needsContribute to marketing, outreach, and fundraising efforts, as appropriate.Engage with community stakeholders to build partnerships and strengthen the band’s presence.Support the band’s dual purpose as a place of musical expression and meaningful connection.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Music, Conducting, Music Education, or related fieldMinimum 3 years of conducting experience with large ensembles; experience with adult community bands strongly preferredProven rehearsal and conducting skills, with the ability to coach musicians with varied abilities and hold the ensemble to strong musical standardsComprehensive knowledge of concert band repertoire, including both classic and contemporary worksStrong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to connect with people of different backgroundsDemonstrated ability to foster a positive, inclusive, respectful environment for adult volunteer musiciansAbility to collaborate, build consensus, and work effectively with Section Leaders and Board membersCommitment to ongoing musical growth, both personal and ensemble‑wideExperience collaborating with community organizations, volunteers, or nonprofit boards preferred but not required

Candidate Attributes

Person‑centered, empathetic, and respectfulAppreciates the culture, dynamics, and needs of adult community ensembleOrganized, prepared, dependable, and committedCreative vision in programming for audience engagementSkilled at balancing musical excellence with enjoyable member experiencesComfortable serving as the public face of the ensembleApproaches leadership with humility, humanity, and a collaborative spiritInterested individuals should apply directly to website (plymouthconcertband.org/directorsearch)