Title Conductor, Sentimental Journey Singers
Reports to Director of Arts for Life and Artistic Director
Part-Time/Contract
$200/per rehearsal; 15-week semester, $300/per concert
ORGANIZATION
Encore Creativity for Older Adults (Encore), founded in 2007, and headquartered in Annapolis, MD is the nation’s largest choral program for adults over the age of 55. Encore’s mission is to provide an excellent and accessible artistic environment for older adults, regardless of experience or ability, who seek arts education and performance opportunities under a professional artist. Encore is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Encore has grown to 23 choral groups in the Baltimore-Washington area, including 15 Encore Chorales and five Encore ROCKS rock & roll choruses and two Sentimental Journey Singers chorale. Additionally, Encore has a Chorale and ROCKS in NYC, CA, DE, and NC. Encore currently serves nearly 1300 singers.
Encore’s annual program consists of two fifteen-week “semesters” of rehearsing repertoire, followed by concerts that are free and open to the public. All groups rehearse the same music, enabling them to come together for concerts with as many as 250 singers in any one performance. Concerts are held at high quality, high visibility locations including the Kennedy Center.
ARTS FOR LIFE PROGRAM
Encore’s Arts for Life programming is for those with cognitive change including Alzheimer’s and dementias. Currently we offer two programs: Sentimental Journey Singers, a choral program for those with early- to mid-stage cognitive change and their care partners; and Melody Makers, a music experience for with mid- to moderate cognitive change.
Sentimental Journey Singers
Sentimental Journey Singers is a choir for singers with early to mid-stage cognitive change such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and their care partners. The groups learn 3-part mixed music; soprano, alto, baritone that is a combination of popular songs from the 40s, 50s, and 60s as well as American Songbook. The group rehearses once a week for approximately 15 weeks. The 90-minute rehearsal includes vocal exercises, rehearsal of choral repertoire, fun sing along pieces and therapeutic music games and movement activities. At the conclusion of the semester, Sentimental Journey Singers participate in a concert to showcase our work.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Conductor for Sentimental Journey Singers (SJS) will attend a virtual conductors meeting each semester, lead weekly 90-minute rehearsals including rehearsal of repertoire and leading therapeutic music activities. The Conductor will director at least one concert per semester.
QUALIFICATIONS
The SJS Conductor should have, at a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or music therapy. Strong piano skills are required, including ability to conduct rehearsals from the piano. Experience in vocal technique, individual and group vocal classes is required. Knowledge of cognitive impairments and music therapy is preferred, but not required as basic training is available.
The Conductor must embrace the philosophy of process over performance. Encore always strives to present quality programming and we also understand the importance of building community, intellectual stimulation, and artistic expression. Therefore, our main focus is on achieving these goals through choral singing.
TO APPLY
Please send your resume and cover letter to Mary Ann East, Director of Arts for Life at [email protected]