Open Rank (Assistant/Associate/Full) Clinical Professor in Choral Activities - School of Music
College of Fine and Applied Arts
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Position Summary
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Music invites applications for a full-time non-tenure-track Open Rank Clinical Professor position in Choral Activities at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level. We seek an imaginative, dynamic colleague who will be a collaborative member in the School of Music, and who will teach a wide range of students and courses in the choral area. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking choral program within a world-class research university. We encourage applications from candidates who bring diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to conducting, pedagogy, and recruiting. This appointment begins August 16, 2025. Salary and rank commensurate with experience.
This candidate will work with the School's Director of Choral Activities (DCA) to execute a strategic artistic vision that encompasses both music majors and non-majors from across campus to connect students and the music community, which includes state music teachers, audiences, alumni, and other stakeholders. In addition to teaching experience, the successful candidate will have experience recruiting singers from all backgrounds, including underserved populations, in addition to experience in fundraising and partnership building.
This candidate will teach courses within the School of Music that include graduate seminars in choral literature, courses in undergraduate choral conducting, and conducting at least two of the School's choirs. The successful candidate may serve on exam committees as warranted and they should be active as a creative scholar in the profession. They will also be committed to making an instructional impact and contributing to the School's broader mission through public engagement, service, and research.
Located on the Urbana-Champaign campus, the University of Illinois School of Music is a center for creativity and collaboration through performance, research, and education. Historically rich in tradition, the School of Music is a resource for music scholarship of all kinds, and offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees to its more than 700 students in many different fields of study. Hosting a diverse population of faculty, students, and staff, the School of Music embraces innovation and discovery while providing an array of musical and engagement opportunities within the artistic and educational communities of Urbana and Champaign. Please see http://music.illinois.edu for information regarding the University of Illinois School of Music.
Roles and Responsibilities
• Serve as the principal conductor and director of the University of Illinois Varsity Men's Glee Club (VMGC), one of the oldest ensembles in the School of Music; serve as the primary instructor and advisor for The Other Guys, a subset of singers from VMGC.
• Serve as co-conductor of Oratorio Society, a campus-community choral ensemble.
• Teach undergraduate choral conducting.
• Teach graduate choral literature.
• Demonstrate a commitment to support and nurture singers in their artistic growth.
• Work with the DCA and the School's other choral conductors for a shared commitment to collaboration, communication, and planning, while centering equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in decision making.
• Assist the DCA with administrative needs, educational programming and strategy, and organizational values across all communication platforms, including performances, conferences, recordings, public events, tours, and digital and social media.
• Recruit singers from campus and the state of Illinois for the School's choral ensembles.
All employees of the School of Music are also expected to embrace the following core ideals:
• Demonstrate a commitment to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, one that reflects the entire State of Illinois.
• Support the University of Illinois' dedication to being a community of care.
• Demonstrate a commitment to student success and well-being through both teaching excellence and broader mentorship.
• Seek opportunities for collaboration with colleagues on and off campus, and within and across disciplines.
• View recruiting and retention, particularly of members of underserved communities, as fundamental to the position and to the School's success.
• Work as a cooperative member of the School's communities and serve as a model of integrity and collegiality.
• Exhibit passion for your work, the School, and the role of music in our society.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Master's degree in music and/or a related field.
• Substantial evidence of successful teaching/conducting experience as a choral conductor and director.
• Experience as a choral clinician and/or consultant for academic and/or professional music events.
• Demonstrated success teaching singers of various ages, experiences, and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience in teaching and communicating across cultures and promoting inclusivity
in teaching environments.
• Proficiency in multiple languages.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Ten years successful teaching/conducting experience as a choral conductor and director.
• Evidence of successful research/creative activity, public engagement, or service in the music industry.
• Potential for, or record of, community-engaged activities, especially activities involving underserved or underrepresented students.
• Expertise and/or experience in one or more of the following areas:
o Recruiting, especially musicians from diverse backgrounds.
o Fundraising and donor relations.
• Experience working with students in academic settings.
The School of Music values collaboration and appreciation for the many differing styles of music the School supports, and values teaching practices that integrate scholarship with cultural and critical theories, and performances emphasizing diverse musical practices.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 8/16/2025. Clinical Professors (Assistant, Associate, and Full) at Illinois are classified as specialized faculty. Approximately 30% of faculty in the School of Music are specialized. This appointment will begin as a one-year appointment. Upon successful completion of the first year, the appointment will be renewed with the possibility of a multi-year agreement. Specialized faculty at UIUC are represented by a union, the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition (NTFC) Local #6546, that negotiates salaries and benefits. More information about this type of faculty position can be found in University Communications #25 and #26 here: https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/ . Previously determined salary ranges for the position are: $63,000-$70,000 at the Clinical Assistant Professor level, $80,000-$90,000 at the Clinical Associate Professor level, and $100,000-$110,000 at the Clinical Full Professor level. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. Further information about benefits can be found here: https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits .
Application Procedures & Deadlines
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on February 6, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Interviews may be conducted before the closing date, but no hiring decision will be made until after the close of the search. For full consideration, please submit the following:
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