POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Staff Music Director-Accompanist
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2141
GRADE 42
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Department Head, Theatre and Dance Department
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Dean, College of Arts and Letters
GENERAL FUNCTION
The primary duty of the Staff Music Director-Accompanist is to serve as music director for Theatre and Dance mainstage productions and the summer Tent Theatre season, including serving as audition, rehearsal, and production pianist-conductor for musical theatre productions during the academic year as well as during Tent Theater. The Staff Music Director-Accompanist provides appropriate piano accompaniments for musical theatre classes and musical theatre workshops, serves as music director and outreach coordinator for Syncopation, and serves as music director-accompanist for musical theatre senior recital projects and the annual BFA Musical Theatre Senior Showcase in New York. The Staff Music Director-Accompanist coordinates class assignments for all dance accompanists and, as scheduling permits, accompanies dance classes and accompanies BFA Musical Theatre program auditions, scholarship auditions, and assessments.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor's degree is required.
Experience: At least two years of experience in accompanying or as a musical director for musicals is required. Experience in a variety of musical styles is preferred.
Skills: Professional performance ability in a wide variety of musical styles is required. Excellent sight-reading skills are required. Ability to teach vocal scores to actors is required. Piano improvisational ability is preferred. Excellent interpersonal skills are required. Strong oral and written communications skills are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
Effort: Auditory acuity within the normal range is required. Visual acuity necessary to read published music and professional music manuscripts is required. Ability to work outdoors in the summer is required.
Other: The scope of the job frequently requires working evenings and/or weekends, particularly during rehearsals of musical theatre productions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Serves as music director for Theatre and Dance mainstage productions and the summer Tent Theatre season by serving as audition, rehearsal, and production pianist-conductor of musical theatre productions during the academic years and for Tent Theatre.
2. Provides appropriate piano accompaniments for musical theatre classes and musical theatre workshops, coordinates class assignments for all dance accompanists and, as scheduling permits, accompanies dance classes, and accompanies BFA musical theatre program auditions, scholarship auditions, and assessments.
3. Serves as music director and outreach coordinator for Syncopation including coordinating program development and rehearsal, communicating with schools and the community, scheduling performances, and other miscellaneous duties pertaining to the ensemble.
4. Serves as music director-accompanist for musical theatre senior recital projects including helping musical theatre seniors, in conjunction with voice faculty, select repertoire, and develop, prepare, and perform the senior project.
5. Serves as music director-accompanist for the annual BFA musical theatre senior showcase in New York.
6. Serves as music supervisor when opportunities exist for students to gain educational experience as music director for a mainstage production.
7. Serves as the department’s alumni liaison and contact.
8. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
9. Remains competent and current through self-direct professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and courses as directed by the supervisor.
10. Contributes to the overall success of the Department of Theatre and Dance by performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Staff Music Director-Accompanist is supervised by the Department Head of Theatre and Dance.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED SEPTEMBER 2013
