String Instructor & Coordinator
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras are looking for a String Instructor & Coordinator. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in music performance on a string instrument and/or a degree in music education with a string/orchestra focus or relevant experience. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and positive individual that can work in a team environment. The full position description is listed below.
String Instructor & Coordinator
Position Description
Status: Part-time (4-24 Hours); Non-Exempt
Supervised By: Conductor, ISYO & Youth & Community Education Programs Manager, and ISO Executive Director
Organization Description:
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is central Illinois’ largest professional orchestra serving over 35,000 patrons in the communities of Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and the surrounding region with a season of four symphony orchestra, two chamber orchestra, Family and Holiday Pops, and Concerts for Kids performances in each community. In addition to concert performances, the Orchestra's music education and outreach programs serve pre-K and elementary schools through the Itsy Arts and Music Matters education programs and reach middle schools, high schools, universities, community organizations and senior centers through guest artist residencies and musician and ensemble performances. The ISO also has an active Around the Town Chamber Music Series and virtual Sunday at Six Recital Series.
The ISO has appeared at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and has performed state-wide with appearances at the Ravinia Festival, Millennium Park in Chicago, and at the Illinois State Fair. The ISO has won numerous awards, including Community Event of the Year from the Illinois Council of Orchestras for its 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration involving over 1,000 performers and in 2015 performed a commemorative concert for the 150th Anniversary of the Lincoln Funeral Train.
In July 2020, the ISO acquired the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony (SVYS) organization that formed in the early 1970s by parents, music teachers and musicians to keep string programs and youth orchestra in Springfield and surrounding communities following the elimination of school orchestra programs. Currently, the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras (ISYO) programs serve over 150 students in multiple ensembles including Starter and Junior Strings, Preparatory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra. The ISO also has a partnership in education and community engagement (PEACE) with the UIS-School of Music and with the Illinois State University School of Music and College of Fine Arts.
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra proudly serves as a vital cultural resource, educational partner, and an invaluable enhancement to the quality of life in its home bases of Springfield and Bloomington-Normal offering programs that are accessible, equitable, diverse, and inclusive. The orchestra performs in Bloomington/Normal at Illinois State University’s Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and Second Presbyterian Church and in Springfield at the UIS Performing Arts Center, First Presbyterian Church, and other community locations. The ISO has a budget of approximately $1.4 million.
Teaching Duties and Responsibilities:
Instruct up to 10 Starter and/or Junior Strings classes during the academic year. Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to each class.
Work with ISYO Conductor and other Strings Instructors to develop and refine the yearly curriculum for Starter and Junior Strings program.
Create weekly lesson plans based on curriculum.
Provide students and parents with weekly practice plans for each class, including additional materials such as example photos and/or videos.
Attend and participate in the presentation of concerts that include Starter and/or Junior Strings during the academic year. Arrive at designated instructor times for each concert, but no later than one hour prior.
Maintain weekly class attendance rosters and report any changes to roster or student contact information to the Programs Manager.
Document any disciplinary actions taken during classes and provide to ISYO Youth and Community Education Program Manager.
Attend required meetings, auditions, and events for ISYO programs.
Assist in the recruitment of students and general promotion of Starter and Junior Strings program.
Set up and break down classroom spaces as required.
Administrative Duties and Responsibilities:
Be the primary communicator with parents regarding individual student/parent needs & concerns.
Be the primary communicator with area schools, including establishing new Starter/Junior Strings classes, scheduling in-school presentations and parent meetings (including arranging for the Music Shoppe to attend and offer rental instruments), sending class flyers to schools, setting class days & times in conjunction with schools, and communicating with school principals as needed and
inviting principals to attend ISYO events.
Coordinate the schedule of Starter/Junior Strings classes, seeking to maximize teacher availability and number of participating schools.
Compile rosters of participating Starter/Junior Strings musicians for concert programs and submit to ISO Youth and Community Education Program Manager three weeks prior to concert.
Oversee the inventory of ISYO string instruments, and coordinate instrument loans to students.
Other Duties:
Play a positive, visible, and active role in the Central Illinois music community.
Assist in the general promotion of ISYO programs.
Develop and foster a strong working relationship with local and regional school and community music educators.
Attend official functions and meetings of ISO as required.
Promote the overall public image of ISO in the local community and beyond.
Requirements:
The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in music performance on a string instrument and/or a degree in music education with a string/orchestra focus or relevant experience.
The successful candidate will have experience teaching string instruments to beginning musicians who are learning a string instrument for the first time. The young musicians are typically starting at the third-grade elementary school level.
The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and positive individual that can work in a team environment. S/he will be comfortable working in a collaborative environment with a small staff and limited resources. S/he will be eager to develop the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra programs in the community. S/he will be flexible, adaptable, and energetic.
The successful candidate will be able to accept a work schedule that may include morning, evening, weekend activities, and occasional travel.
Compensation: $20,000-24,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
Application Deadline: Monday, June 5th, 2023
Contact Name: Jackie Mitra, Youth & Community Education Programs Manager
Website: www.ilsymphony.org
Application Procedure: E-mail cover letter and resume to Jackie Mitra, Youth & Community Education Programs Manager, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, jmitra@ilsymphony.org. No telephone calls, please.