Job Duties
Santa Monica College Music Department invites applications for a part-time position as Conductor of the SMC Jazz Vocal Ensemble (Music 53 Course Outline of Record) to begin Fall semester 2024. We seek an energetic and inspirational candidate who will have a creative approach to program and concert design and a passion for teaching vocal jazz technique and styles in an ensemble context. We seek a diverse pool of candidates, who are experienced in and committed to cultivating inclusive and equitable learning spaces. Qualified candidates who do not possess a master degree are encouraged to apply under equivalency.
The position demands excellence in artistry, time management, communication, the ability to work with a wide range of singers, from beginning to advanced, and a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and the mission of the college. The candidate will work with the SMC Music Department to create an environment that nurtures and develops the creativity, musical potential, and performance skills of the singers.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Prepare and lead one rehearsal per week, on Thursday evenings. Rehearsals should contribute to the development of musical knowledge and understanding, including cultural and racial contexts, as well as vocal jazz technique and performance practice.
- Generate rehearsal schedules for students, guest artists, staff accompanists, and events support staff.
- Conduct one concert per semester (both Spring and Fall semesters) performed alternatingly at the Broad Stage and the Music Hall on the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center campus. Concerts should reinforce singers’ understanding of concert etiquette and standard performance practices and encourage high standards of personal musicianship.
- Select repertoire that includes pieces from vocal jazz genres for large and small ensembles that are challenging yet appropriate for the technical ability of singers and accommodate possible flexibility of ensembles.
- Implement culturally responsive pedagogy and seek to embody an awareness of the impacts on individuals of shifting socio-political concerns.
- Coordinate and supervise auditions and lead any sectionals deemed appropriate for the ensemble.
- Coordinate with other departmental choral directors and the Music Department Chair and staff regarding needs for instruments, music, rehearsal equipment, rooms/venues, dates, programs, and production logistics.
- Prepare content for marketing materials and promotion.
- Prepare content for the concert program and oversee its preparation.
- Maintain weekly attendance records according to SMC policy.
- Maintain office hours.
- Work outside assigned rehearsal times for dress rehearsals and performances.
Other activities may include
- Active participation in student recruitment
- Audience building/outreach
- Coordination/collaboration with other SMC Music Department ensembles and/or developing cross-disciplinary initiatives with others in the Fine Arts departments
- Participation in conferences, festivals, and competition performances
- Develop and coordinate supplementary fundraising sources.
- Bringing in guest artists specializing in vocal jazz.
- Assisting in maintaining a social media presence for the ensemble.
- Participating in department and college flex day activities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s in music OR
- Bachelor’s in music AND Master’s in humanities OR
- The equivalent.
NOTE: If you are applying under an Equivalency, please fill out the Equivalency Form: which must be included with application submission if applying through equivalency.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate degree in music performance or equivalent knowledge and experience.
- Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in vocal jazz performance or equivalent experience.
- Minimum of 3 years ensemble conducting experience.
- Previous experience working with students or amateur singers.
- High level of verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate with students of different ages, levels of knowledge, and learning styles.
- Ability to arrange and simplify vocal parts as needed.
- Ability to create charts for instrumentalists, as needed.
- Ability to coach soloists singing alone or in a small group.
Additional Information
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITYWith the goal of ensuring the equal educational opportunity of all students, Santa Monica College embraces diversity among students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve as an integral part of our history, a recognition of the complexity of our present state, and a call to action for a better future. Embracing diversity means that we must intentionally practice equity and respect toward one another, and understand that discrimination and prejudices create and sustain privileges for some while creating and sustaining barriers for others. In order to embrace diversity, we also acknowledge that institutional discrimination and implicit bias exist, and that our goal is to eradicate those vestiges from our system. Our commitment to diversity requires that we strive to eliminate those barriers to equity, and that we act deliberately to create a safe and positive environment where individual and group differences are valued and leveraged for our growth and understanding as an educational community.
To advance the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice for the success of students and employees, we must honor that each individual is unique and that our individual differences contribute to the ability of the college to prepare students on their educational journeys. This requires that we develop and implement policies and procedures, encourage individual and systemic change, continually reflect on our efforts, and hold ourselves accountable for the results of our efforts in accomplishing our goals.
We are invested as a community in cultivating and maintaining a climate where equity and mutual respect are both intrinsic and explicit by valuing individuals and groups from all backgrounds, demographics, and experiences. Individual and group differences can include, but are not limited to the following dimensions: race, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, immigration status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, religion, creed, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, and any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. We acknowledge that the concept of inclusion and diversity is ever-evolving, thus we create space to allow our understanding to grow through the periodic review of this statement. In service of these goals, Santa Monica College is committed to fostering an employment environment that offers equal employment opportunity for all and an educational environment that ensures the equal educational opportunity of all students.
Application Requirements
Please note: First review of applications will begin mid-January 2024
A completed initial application consists of the following:
- Online District Application
- [pdf] Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (including degrees and music performance certificates). Official transcripts will be required upon hiring.
- [pdf] If applying for Equivalency, please make sure you have completed and attached the Equivalency Form.
- [pdf or doc] Resume, Professional Resume or Curriculum Vitae, highlighting your work specializing in vocal jazz and conducting ensembles.
- [pdf or doc] Two Audio Samples: In a single PDF, please include a working URL (not requiring login) for each of the following audio samples:
- URL #1/Audio Sample #1: A video of you singing a jazz standard with idiomatic phrasing elements.
- URL #2/Audio Sample #2: A video of you improvising over a swing tune or the blues.
In addition, applicants may include the following in their application:
- [pdf or doc] Cover Letter to the committee, which could include highlighting your qualifications for the job as listed and briefly describing your experience leading and performing in vocal jazz groups, including your festival and/or touring experience.
If advanced in the process, candidates may be asked for additional materials.
More Information on the Application Process
*The following information is for planning purposes only and subject to change.
If you submit a completed application, you will be considered by our committee for advancement, through two additional activities. Round 2 is a 20-25-minute interview on February 23 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and Round 3 is an audition with the ensemble on March 28 and April 4 between 6:45 and 9:50 PM. Both Rounds 2 and 3 will be more specifically scheduled in the future, but you should pencil in the dates now just in case you are advanced in the process.
The candidate who is offered the job and accepts will also be invited and paid to guest coach the Jazz Vocal Ensemble soloists, small group, and/or large ensemble on 5/16, 5:15-9:45 PM and 5/30, 5:15-7:30 PM, in addition to being introduced to the audience at our 6/6 and 6/7 (7:30 PM) concerts on the Broad Stage.
Additional Info on Round 2, Interview
We prefer that you interview in person, but we will also make Zoom available upon request. Your interview will last approximately 20-25 minutes, during which we will ask you to answer 6 questions regarding aspects of the job and drawing upon your experience. If you are advanced to Round 2, you will be invited via email to schedule your Interview with us.
Additional Info on Round 3, Audition
Applicants who advance to the Round 3 (final round) should clear their schedule and plan to be on campus for Thursday, March 28, and Thursday, April 4 to complete an in-person audition with the ensemble, 6:45-9:45 PM. We will send details upon completion of Round 2.
Pay Philosophy
Starting salary for Part Time Faculty is based on educational achievement and relevant prior employment experience up to but not beyond Step 4. Further step advancement shall occur at the beginning of the intersession or semester following completion of multiples of 30 LHE at Santa Monica College.
Part Time Faculty salary schedule can be accessed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Se16Qr43kPYcqmvM4ilW8-U9VF30RcB/view
Please review the following link from the Faculty Association (The Union representing you) on an explanation of the of the salary structure for new faculty hires: https://sites.google.com/view/smcfa/part-time-faculty-resources/understanding-the-new-salary-schedule/new-faculty-members For your counseling assignment please read the section on “Completely non-instructional assignments” once on that New Faculty Salary page.
For even more information about our part-time faculty salary structure, the history of why we’ve moved away from “hourly” pay scales, and to better understand “Lecture Hour Equivalents” (LHE), you can visit the following site: https://sites.google.com/view/smcfa/part-time-faculty-resources/understanding-the-new-salary-schedule
Diversity Statement
Recent experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom; and a willingness to use culturally responsive instructional practices.
Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of diversity, and ability to motivate and teach community college students of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, cultures, and learning styles, as well as students with disabilities or varied levels of academic preparation.
Equity Statement
Santa Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity and inclusion. Equity, diversity and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment.
Equal Employment Opportunity Disclosure
The Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunity. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District’s Board Policy 3420 (Equal Employment Opportunity) may be accessed at: http://www.smc.edu/ACG/Documents/Board_Policy_Manual/Updated%20Board%20Policies%202017/Board%20Policy%20Chapter%203.pdf(Download PDF reader)
Equivalency Statement
The Santa Monica Community College District, in its desire to select outstanding faculty members from the largest possible pool of qualified applicants, recognizes the fact that candidates may attain expertise in a discipline through a variety of means. Certain combinations of education, experience and other accomplishments in the field may be judged by the District as equal to the stated minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who feel they possess such equivalent qualifications are encouraged to apply and provide appropriate documentation of their qualifications.