Artistic Director (Choral)
The Festival Chorus
Deadline to apply: April 21, 2025.
Are you an experienced choral director looking for a new opportunity? Calgary’s The Festival Chorus is hiring an artistic director to commence Summer 2025.
We are an auditioned mixed voice choir, based in Calgary. The artistic vision of The Festival Chorus is to provide as wide a variety of classical choral repertoire through a balanced performing season, in order to enhance our Calgary audience’s appreciation of choral artistry. The performance of live choral music is as essential a strand in the artistic fabric of a community as great literature, stirring theatre, or compelling visual arts expression. The Festival Chorus seeks to honour this commitment as one of Calgary’s established and continuous performing groups, with an historic 65+ years presence. Our performances currently include a much-loved holiday concert in December, a concert in early spring where we explore a variety of music, and a concert in late spring where we present a major choral work or works.
Major responsibilities include:
- Providing artistic direction to the Chorus including deciding on appropriate musical pieces for the Chorus to perform based on the venue and occasion, chorister ability and growth.
- Determining vocal requirements of the Chorus and establishing screening criteria for membership
- Building up the Chorus and enhancing membership through outreach and recruitment efforts
- Setting and conducting weekly Chorus rehearsals September through April/May Rehearsals are currently held Tuesday evenings at the Jack Singer Rehearsal Hall, Arts Commons
- Planning and organizing extra vocal workshops as needed including selecting and arranging for clinicians
- Attending board meetings September through May as an Ex officio Member; planning, budgeting, and recommending an annual performance plan to the board. Some availability for board meetings June and August is required
- Working with elected and appointed officers; and communications/website contractors in organizing and promoting performances
- Selecting and arranging for accompaniment, including orchestral accompaniment for performances; selecting and arranging soloists to perform with the Chorus as required
- Sourcing musical scores required to enable planned programs
- Researching and writing artistic descriptive messages for concert advertising and programs, mail outs, Chorus communication, concert programs and grant applications
- Representing and promoting the Chorus within the local arts and choral community as well as in social and traditional media
Qualifications include a degree in music with expertise in choral training and orchestral conducting; at least five years’ related experience; membership in the Calgary Musicians Association – Local 547, A.F. of M or willingness to join; and superior communication skills. Established connections in the Calgary choral community an asset.
Apply with resume, cover letter, and a sample program which you have designed to president@thefestivalchorus.com and/or denycel@live.com.
Deadline is April 21, 2025.
