Overview
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The Department of Music at Utah State University seeks an accomplished conductor, educator, and artistic leader to serve as the inaugural holder of the Craig Jessop Endowed Chair for Choral Conducting & Community Engagement and as Music Director of the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra (AFCO).
This unique position combines a faculty appointment as leader of the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program with artistic leadership of one of the Intermountain West's premier community choral and orchestral organizations. The successful candidate will provide academic leadership for graduate conducting education, contribute to the teaching, scholarship, and service mission of Utah State University, and advance the artistic excellence and community impact of the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra.
Responsibilities
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**Utah State University Faculty Responsibilities:**
* Provide leadership and oversight for the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program.
* Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, rehearsal techniques, and related areas.
* Recruit, advise, mentor, and support the retention and professional development of graduate and undergraduate students.
* Supervise graduate conducting students and support their career preparation and professional placement.
* Maintain an active program of scholarly, creative, and professional engagement consistent with the expectations of a senior faculty member at a land-grant research university.
* Participate in curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and program planning.
* Contribute to departmental, college, and university service.
* Collaborate with faculty colleagues across the department, college, and university.
* Strengthen partnerships with community arts organizations and educational institutions throughout the region.
* Support recruitment, outreach, and public engagement initiatives that advance the mission of Utah State University.
**American Festival Chorus & Orchestra Responsibilities:**
* Serve as Music Director and principal conductor of the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra.
* Provide artistic leadership and vision for AFCO performances, programs, and initiatives.
* Program, prepare, rehearse, and conduct major choral-orchestral repertoire while sustaining AFCO's artistic standards and reputation.
* Recruit, inspire, and retain volunteer singers and community musicians.
* Collaborate with guest artists, conductors, orchestras, arts organizations, and university leadership.
* Develop and maintain relationships with patrons, donors, alumni, sponsors, and community stakeholders in support of AFCO's artistic and organizational goals.
* Contribute to audience development, community engagement, fundraising, and advocacy efforts consistent with AFCO's mission.
Qualifications
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* Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Choral Conducting or a related field. An equivalent record of exceptional professional achievement and national or international distinction may be considered in lieu of traditional academic credentials.
* At least five years of successful experience as a music director, artistic director, or conductor of collegiate, professional, community, church, or civic choral ensembles, with demonstrated success developing high-level ensembles.
* Demonstrated experience programming and conducting orchestras and major choral-orchestral repertoire.
* Experience teaching, administering, or coordinating choral conducting or a closely related field at the university level, including the ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, rehearsal techniques, and related areas.
* Demonstrated success in student recruitment, mentoring, and retention.
* Evidence of effective community engagement and relationship building with arts organizations, schools, donors, alumni, and community stakeholders.
* Strong organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
* Commitment to artistic excellence, student success, collaborative leadership, collegiality, and public engagement.
* Piano proficiency sufficient for teaching, rehearsal, score study, and conducting preparation.
**Desired Attributes:**
* Vision for artistic leadership and program development.
* Passion for graduate conducting education and mentorship.
* Ability to inspire and lead students, professional musicians, and community volunteers.
* Commitment to building meaningful connections between Utah State University and the broader community.
* Appreciation for the partnership between Utah State University and the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra.
* Commitment to continuing and expanding a tradition of artistic excellence, educational opportunity, community engagement, and service.
Required Documents
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Along with the online application, please attach:
- CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
- Cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in the position to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
- Names and contact information of at least three references to be typed in the beginning of the application
- At least three links to recent video recordings demonstrating conducting and rehearsal leadership. Public or unlisted links are accepted. These will be typed/pasted at the end of your application
\*\*Document size may not exceed 10 MB.\*\*
Advertised Salary
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Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits.
ADA
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Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.
College/Department Highlights
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**Department Highlights**
The Department of Music serves approximately 250 music majors and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Located in the Chase Fine Arts Center, the department's facilities include teaching studios, rehearsal spaces, faculty offices, Daines Concert Hall, and the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall. The department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance, music education, music therapy, conducting, and related disciplines. https://artsci.usu.edu/music/
**American Festival Chorus & Orchestra Highlights**
Founded in 2008 by Craig Jessop, the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra is a distinctive community partner of Utah State University and a leading choral-orchestral organization in the Intermountain West. The auditioned ensemble includes more than 200 singers from northern Utah and southern Idaho and a 65-member professional orchestra composed of university faculty, regional professionals, and select students.
AFCO presents repertoire ranging from major choral-orchestral masterworks and opera to pops, Americana, and seasonal programming. Through collaborations with nationally recognized guest artists, regional arts organizations, and educational partners, AFCO contributes to the cultural life of the region while providing opportunities for artistic participation, education, and community engagement. https://americanfestivalchorus.org/
**Caine School of the Arts Highlights**
The Caine School of the Arts, within Utah State University's College of Arts & Sciences, promotes the arts and arts education on campus and throughout the community. The school supports community engagement in the arts, provides professional stewardship of performance and exhibition facilities, and collaborates with university leadership, patrons, and donors to strengthen arts programs and initiatives. https://artsci.usu.edu/caine/
**College Highlights**
The College of Arts & Sciences encompasses programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The college supports discovery, creativity, and student success through teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement. Faculty and students collaborate across disciplines to address complex challenges, generate new knowledge, and prepare graduates for meaningful careers and lives of impact. https://artsci.usu.edu/
University Highlights
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As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.
USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.
Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community,
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