Artistic Director

p> Guelph Youth Singers – Artistic Director and Senior Choirs Conductor
We are looking for a dynamic, community-oriented Artistic Director and Senior Choirs Conductor to lead Guelph Youth Singers (GYS) for our 2024-2025 season. This position is a one-year contract, with a possibility to extend the contract based on mutual agreement between the candidate and the Board of Directors.

About the Choirs:
GYS is made up of four Junior Choirs offering beginner to intermediate choral opportunities for youth aged 4-12. Mini Music Makers is a recreational choir for children aged 4-7. Choir I and Choir II are auditioned training/performance choirs for youth aged 6-12. Choir II+ (name pending) is a transition choir between Junior and Senior, intended for choristers who are not quite ready to be part of Chamber Choir, but desire an additional musical challenge.

GYS’s Senior Choirs are auditioned training/performance choirs for youth aged 13-20 with intermediate to advanced skills and include Choir II+ with Chamber Choir (name pending), Chamber Choir and smaller performance-focused ensembles. Each of our core choir programs are geared toward young musicians who are committed to the development of musical skills through rigorous rehearsals, engaging repertoire, and an individually prepared sight-singing and ear-training program.

Choristers will be involved in two full concerts (December and May) as well as the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph, and other community concerts and outreach opportunities. Professional collaborative opportunities involve the Guelph Chamber Choir and Guelph Symphony Orchestra. Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings at the Guelph Youth Music Centre.

• Oversee repertoire selection for each concert appropriate to the choir’s abilities and goals
• Develop season-long plan regarding concerts, outreach opportunities, festivals, and possible touring
• Develop sight-singing and musicianship development curriculum
• Attend Board of Director meetings monthly
• Connect with local community and other artists, ie through guest artists for concerts, attending community events
• When available, attend or lead community concerts, fundraisers, or other events.
• Actively recruit singers through outreach.
• At least 3 weeks prior to performances, provide a list of concert pieces (some variation may be necessary, but this should be minimized).
• Assist conductors with making informed choices regarding Kiwanis Festival entries and repertoire
• Make recommendations to the board regarding staffing
• Lead weekly team meetings with full staff complement, reporting any immediate issues to the Board of Directors

Key responsibilities of the Senior Choirs Conductor include:

• Select repertoire for each concert appropriate to the choir’s abilities and goals
• Assist with season-long plan regarding concerts, outreach opportunities, festivals, and possible touring
• Implement sight-singing and musicianship development curriculum
• Prepare regular chorister communication highlighting work done in rehearsals, expectations for upcoming rehearsals, setting clear learning outcomes and goals. li>
• Attend Board of Director meetings monthly
• Actively seek out community events to boost community engagement
• When available, attend or lead community concerts, fundraisers, or other events.
• Actively recruit singers through outreach.
• At least 3 weeks prior to performances, provide a list of concert pieces (some variation may be necessary, but this should be minimized).
• Make informed choices regarding Kiwanis Festival entries and repertoire, in collaboration with the artistic staff
• Participate in weekly team meetings with full GYS staff

Qualifications:
Required:

• Undergraduate degree or higher in relevant field (i.e., Bachelor of Music or Performance in Voice, focus on Choral Conducting or Music Education)
• Minimum 5 years experience with choral or ensemble conducting
• Strong understanding of vocal pedagogy
• Ability to act as a collaborative leader and mentor
• A proven record of encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion within children’s and youth programming and among artistic and administrative staff teams.
• Ability to act as a collaborative leader and mentor Experience with community-based, not-for-profit arts organizations is an asset.

  About GYS:
  Guelph Youth Singers (GYS) is an award-winning choir with deep roots in our community for over 30 years GYS aims to support the well-being of children and youth in our community by providing an inclusive space to experience fun and high-quality musical training. We strive to brand Guelph as a city that values the arts and recognizes how the arts contribute to the healthy development of youth and children.

  GYS is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We acknowledge the systemic barriers that prevent equal access to choral work and are actively working to address these issues. Choral music is for all, and we as an organization are committed to creating an equitable, inclusive space. Our programming and modes of operation are guided by these principles.

  Some recent GYS accomplishments include recording with Toronto independent music group Rosa Ingenious, and being featured in the music video for their song “La La Land” (2023). Each of GYS’s choirs achieved Gold standards at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Guelph this spring. Choir II won 1st Place, while Chamber Choir was awarded 2nd Place at Ontario Music Festivals Association Finals this year.

---