Juneau Symphony Orchestra (JSO) Music Director

JUNEAU SYMPHONY

MUSIC DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

The qualifications for the Juneau Symphony Orchestra (JSO) Music Director described below closely mirror those presented in: Traits and Skills of a Music Director prepared by the League of American Orchestra’s Conducting Continuum Committee (see: http://www.americanorchestras.org/conducting-artistic-programs/conducting/traits-and-skills-of-a-music-director.html for further information).

First and foremost, applicants must demonstrate excellence as a conductor. The music director will be required to balance the roles of the Symphony’s Principal Conductor, its Artistic Director, and as a Juneau Community Arts Leader. The JSO is largely a volunteer community orchestra; applicants should address their experience with like organizations.

Key roles to be addressed by applicants:

Principal Conductor                                                                

1.  Performance Skills—Mastery of at least one instrument and experience as a solo, chamber, and orchestral performer required. Please also address: interpretive skills and instincts, developed and honed through experiences as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and conductor; inquisitiveness about what composers may have wished to communicate in their music, and a fundamental ability to relate that intent to musicians and audiences; and, your capacity to invoke a range of emotional responses to orchestral performance.

 

2. 2.  Technical Skills—These may include: advanced aural skills to deal with complex problems of orchestral intonation, balance, and color; advanced skills in sight-reading and transposition, especially as applied to the preparation of orchestral scores for performance; knowledge and understanding of all instruments used in orchestral performance; functional keyboard skills; practical experience in composition; skills in musical analysis based on professional competence in counterpoint, harmony, composition, musical structures, and orchestration; demonstrated mastery of various musical styles; and, demonstrated awareness of how to discern the effects of time, place, personality, and relevant performance practice upon the way a work should sound, and an understanding of how it should be played to achieve the intended effect.

 

3.  Conducting skills—These may include: baton techniques, rehearsal techniques, podium presence, and success in communicating with orchestra players.

 

4.  Extensive and insightful knowledge of music, and of the arts and humanities in general—Please describe your: knowledge of orchestral repertoire, as well as chamber orchestra, opera, ballet, and choral/orchestral repertoire; knowledge of music history; experience coaching singers in French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, and Spanish (highly desirable); language skills to conduct rehearsals in modern European languages (desirable); and, ability to read music source materials in original languages (desirable).

 

 

Artistic Director

1. Qualities of personal discipline and integrity required for artistic leadership—Please address: ability and willingness to assume a creative leadership role within the Juneau Symphony; confidence and integrity to make difficult decisions; adherence to principles of fairness and sensitivity in all matters pertaining to orchestra personnel; perspective on publicity and reviews and the ability to distinguish between what are worthwhile and what is not; and, ability to advance the needs of the orchestra and community.

 

2. Ability to establish an artistic vision for the Juneau Symphony as a whole—Please address: your interest is serving as the artistic director for the Juneau; your ability to create balanced programs of significance to the ensemble, the occasion, and the community; and, your knowledge of, and ability to, incorporate solo and guest artists.

 

3. Administrative skills—Please address: your knowledge of orchestral administrative/business operations, including governance, fund raising, and marketing/public relations; musician governance structure and practice; and, ability to work collaboratively with an executive director, board, volunteers, and orchestra members.

Community Artistic Leader

1. Knowledge of how the Juneau Symphony operates as an institution—As Music Director of the Juneau Symphony, please address how you would advance the Symphony through programming, education, outreach, and other activities.   Share how you would serve as an influential community advocate for music and music education. Describe your communications and public relations skills and experience in serving as an ambassador for an arts organization, including your media and civic organization outreach experience. Please also address your experience in engaging youth to build awareness and appreciation for orchestral performance.