Collaborative Pianist

About the role

The Collaborative Pianist plays for student ensembles, classes, rehearsals, and lessons, as well as faculty and guest artists. Key responsibilities include playing for large student performing groups such as University Singers, Mad River Transit Singers, Humboldt Chorale, Opera and Music Theater Workshop in rehearsals and performances; rehearsing with choral groups, vocal sections, and soloists; providing musical instruction assistance; accompanying choral groups during rehearsals, at concerts, and other special events; sight reading accompaniments in rehearsals; occasionally performing in large instrumental ensembles; performing with students in recitals, lessons, classes, juries, auditions, and competitions; providing high-level musical instruction assistance; sight reading accompaniments and student compositions in rehearsals and classes as needed; providing basic improvisation as needed; making recordings of accompaniments for student practice; exhibiting professional and stage etiquette; rehearsing and performing in student ensembles during the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop; rehearsing and performing as a collaborative pianist with faculty and guest artists in solo and chamber music performances on and off campus.

Responsibilities

• Play for large student performing groups such as University Singers, Mad River Transit Singers, Humboldt Chorale, Opera and Music Theater Workshop in rehearsals and performances – 30%
• Rehearse with choral groups, vocal sections, and soloists; play full and sectional accompaniment; provide high-level musical instruction assistance in notes, rhythms, phrasing, and diction as needed.
• Accompany choral groups during rehearsals, at concerts, and other special events.
• Sight read accompaniments in rehearsals.
• Occasional duties include playing for warm-ups.
• Provide basic improvisation as needed with the Jazz Choir and/or Musical Theater.
• Exhibit professional and stage etiquette to serve as a model of professionalism for students.
• Perform with students in recitals, lessons, classes, juries, auditions, and competitions.
• Provide high-level musical instruction assistance with pitches, rhythms, articulations, musical expression, diction, and memorization of parts.
• Provide support for instructions given by the studio teacher.
• Sight read accompaniments and student compositions in rehearsals and classes as needed.
• Make recordings of accompaniments for student practice.
• Exhibit professional and stage etiquette to serve as a model of professionalism at musical productions.
• Rehearse and perform in student ensembles during the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop.
• Rehearse and perform as a collaborative pianist with faculty and guest artists in solo and chamber music performances on and off campus.

Requirements

• Knowledge of fundamentals of harmony;
• Skill in playing piano as accompanist;
• Ability to improvise music;
• Ability to coach performing artists;
• Thorough familiarity with accompanying choral groups and soloists (instrumental and vocal).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music with substantial training in Piano and accompanying or equivalent training and experience.
• Masters of Music in Performance and/or Accompanying or Collaborative piano preferred.
• Substantial experience accompanying choral ensembles.
• Substantial experience accompanying instrumentalists.
• Ability to perform in a variety of styles, including being able to improvise effectively in jazz styles.
• Experience coaching singer’s diction in English and other languages.
• Willingness to perform occasional accompaniments in public on harpsichord and/or organ.

Skills

• Ability to perform in public as a collaborative pianist at the professional level.
• Ability to sight read keyboard music well, including open choral scores.
• Thorough familiarity with accompanying choral groups and soloists (instrumental and vocal).
• Experience coaching performing artists.
• Knowledge of vocal, choral and instrumental repertoire.
• Ability to teach and work well with others.
• Ability to make audio recordings.
• Ability to organize schedules, including rooms which are used for coaching purposes, keeping track of hours, keeping a library of music available, using a computer to print out rehearsal schedules, etc.
• Strong communication skills and a desire to work with students.

Benefits

• Outstanding vacation, medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Life insurance.
• Voluntary pre-tax health and dependent care reimbursement accounts.
• A fee waiver education program.
• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
• 15 paid holidays per year.

Pay

Salary range: Step 1 ($4,241) – Step 20 ($6,177), Anticipated Hiring Range: Step 1 ($4,241) – Step 6 ($4,681). Final salary placement is commensurate with experience, internal equity, and budget considerations.

Schedule

This is a full-time, benefited, 11/12 pay plan (work 11 months of the year with pay and benefits over 12 months), permanent position with a one-year probationary period in the Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre.

Application Procedure

To apply, qualified candidates must electronically submit the following materials by clicking the Apply Now button: Letter of Interest, Resume or Curriculum Vitae, Contact information for at least three supervisory references. Application Deadline: The deadline to submit application materials for first review is 11:55 p.m. on February 6, 2026. This position is open until filled. Any inquiries about this recruitment can be directed to careers@humboldt.edu or Cal Poly Humboldt’s Human Resources Office at (707) 826-3626.

Equal Opportunity

Cal Poly Humboldt is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Persons with interest and experience in helping organizations set and achieve goals relative to diversity and inclusion are especially encouraged to apply.