Youth Chorus Artistic Director

About the role

The Lenoir-Rhyne University College of Fine Arts and Communication invites applications for a part-time appointment as artistic director of the Lenoir-Rhyne Youth Chorus (LRYC). The ideal candidate is an inspiring musician and educator who values both artistic excellence and holistic youth development. Appointment begins August 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as artistic and educational leader for all LRYC ensembles (Minnesingers, Meistersingers, and Chamber Singers).
• Plan and lead weekly rehearsals during the academic year (August through November and January through April).
• Select age-appropriate, engaging, and diverse repertoire that aligns with the ensemble’s values and skill levels.
• Organize and conduct performances each semester, including collaborations with LR ensembles and community partners.
• Support student development in vocal technique, music literacy (solfege, sight-reading, theory), and ensemble skills.
• Foster a creative, inclusive, and respectful rehearsal environment.
• Collaborate with LR music faculty and staff to support recruitment, visibility, and alignment with the university’s mission.
• Supervise and mentor assistant conductors, accompanists, or interns as applicable.
• Aid in promoting the program through outreach, recruitment, and community engagement efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music education, choral conducting, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience directing youth choirs or working with young singers in educational settings.
• Strong conducting, rehearsal planning, and pedagogical skills.
• Commitment to musical excellence, inclusion, and student development.
• Excellent communication and organizational abilities.
• Flexibility, creativity, and the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, and community partners.

Additional Information

• Rehearsals are currently held on Monday evenings from 5:15–9:00 p.m.
• The position requires additional time for concert preparation, occasional touring, and administrative coordination.

Application Process

• Candidates will be prompted to submit:
• - Letter of Application specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position
• - Curriculum Vitae or resume including the names and addresses of three references
• - Link to website, portfolio, and / or performances, if applicable

About the College of Fine Arts and Communication

The College of Fine Arts and Communication is committed to developing well-rounded graduates who are perceptive readers and listeners, persuasive writers and speakers, and skilled artists and educators. Our curricula strive to express, enrich, and elevate the human condition by providing students with interdisciplinary experiences that strengthen their abilities to create, collaborate, and contribute to the 5/15/2026 public good. The college offers bachelor’s degrees in communication studies, English, music, theatre, and visual art and an MFA in Creative Writing.

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.