Careers

MUSIC DIRECTOR/ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR

The Valley Symphony Association, based in Montrose and Delta, CO, is seeking a Music Director/Orchestra Conductor to begin with the 2023-2024 season. The Music Director/Orchestra Conductor reports to the VSA board of Directors and is responsible for the Artistic Leadership of the Valley Symphony Association. The Valley Symphony Association is proud to be celebrating our 50th year as a regional, all-volunteer performing arts organization composed of musicians from over 13 distinct communities.

The VSA will host three guest conductor candidates in the 2022-2023 season.

The Valley Symphony Association rehearses on Thursday evenings in Delta, CO.  

In the 2022-23 season, the VSA will perform four program cycles. That number may grow to five or six concert cycles for the 2023-2024 season. 

MUSICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

As the artistic supervisor of the VSA orchestra, the conductor:

•     Exercises leadership in training and developing the total artistic quality of the orchestra.
•     Ensures the effective use of all orchestra players.
•     Auditions potential members, selects principal players, and determines seating within each section. Works with Concertmaster to carry out these duties with the strings as per the Concertmaster job description.
•     Establishes rehearsal schedule; works with dress rehearsal schedule as contracted with venues through the music program subcommittee.
•     Conducts all rehearsals and concerts as agreed by contract.
•     Works with music program subcommittee chair and offers consultation for use and needs of rehearsal space.
•     Works with music program subcommittee and coordinates with music librarians to allow for conductor access.
•     Works as a music program subcommittee member to select music appropriate to the VSA mission, regional audience demographic, and skill set and abilities of the current regional all-volunteer musician members. Conductor shall make final determination for the music selections and themes to be performed.
•     Supervises and advises the concertmaster, guest musicians, and guest conductors.
•     Determines the stage setup to present the orchestra at its best acoustically and visually for all concerts, and collaborates with the performance logistics subcommittee in arranging for concert setup and any special musical needs.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

As a representative of the VSA, the conductor reports directly to the president of the board of directors and serves as an artistic advisor to the board and its committees. The conductor:

• Carries out all required duties in a manner consistent with the policies, procedures, goals, and objectives established by the board. Conductor will receive a copy of the bylaws, budget, and working documents from the board.
• Includes the board in all communication when it impacts the entire organization.
• Shows solidarity and consistency of messaging on the board’s behalf when acting or communicating as a VSA representative.
• Promptly and professionally addresses and communicates all concerns, disagreements, or upsets with the board president for immediate resolution.
• Strengthens the voluntary culture of the orchestra institution: work with board members, musician members, and regional schools and community music educators, to identify and recruit new members and develop collaborative working relationships with such individuals and groups in support of the VSA mission as possible.
• Stays abreast of artistic activities in the orchestra field and works with music program subcommittee to identify and plan new activities that may advance the orchestra’s objectives as possible.
• Attend board meetings as requested and provide reports on artistic activities as needed.
• Assist in the general promotion and best interests of the VSA within reason by establishing and maintaining constructive, positive, and collaborative personal relationships with board members and others in the regional private, public, and corporate community, which are intended to increase exposure, opportunities, and funding.
•  Actively participates in public activities when schedule allows when concerned with the VSA’s growth and welfare (e.g., ticket campaigns, fund-raising, public relations activities, etc..
• Performs other duties as requested by the board and as agreed upon by the conductor.

WHO ARE OUR MUSICIANS?

They are teachers, parents, neighbors, students. They have jobs. They have children. They have homes and schedules and commitments. They teach at local colleges, high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. They work in business, the arts, agriculture, law enforcement, and health care. Some are retired. Some are military veterans. They represent the Uncompahgre, Grand, and North Fork Valleys and live in Montrose, Ouray, Hotchkiss, Eckert, Olathe, Palisade, Paonia, Delta, Ridgway, Austin, Cedaredge, and Grand Junction. Some of them are snowbirds. Some of them are teenagers. And they are all VSA musicians. This season we have more than 100 performers who bring their skill, passion, and talent to the stage. 

ABOUT THE VSA

Since 1970, the Valley Symphony Association has culturally enriched the community and its members by bringing together some of the best volunteer musicians from the Uncompahgre, North Fork, and Grand Valleys to discover and present works of great composers, past and present. Performances range from classical orchestral to upbeat pop, from purely instrumental to purely choral, to a combination of both.

Our goal is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the legacy of live orchestral and choral music that so magnificently celebrates the human spirit. 

Celebrating our 51st season as a regional, all-volunteer performing arts organization composed of musicians who live and work in our midst.

COMPENSATION

The VSA pays its Music Director/Orchestra Conductor $2450 per concert cycle.
VSA will also reimburse mileage at the rate of $0.50 per mile, up to a maximum of $200 per round trip.  

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested conductors should submit the following materials by July 1, 2022

• Cover Letter
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references
• Links to video excerpts of the applicant conducting
• Video links to YouTube with three (3) examples of your recent conducting work in a variety of music styles and from multiple genres
• Applications can be emailed to search@valleysymphony.net