Artistic Director
One Voice Chorus (OVC) is searching for a permanent artistic director.
About Us
One Voice Chorus (OVC) is an SATB choir for LGBTQ2+ singers and allies. We are an auditioned choir, just completing our 11th season, with a wide-ranging repertoire from classical to jazz, madrigals to show tunes, and more! OVC has a diverse membership of approximately 35 active singing members (grouped by vocal range, not gender).
OVC has an annual operating budget of approximately $90,000, with a dedicated operations manager, financial administrator and accompanist. OVC was founded in September 2011, and our aim is to create a queer-friendly space to sing a wide variety of music, to aim for excellence in our singing, to build bridges with our community, and to have fun! We are a vibrant component of Calgary’s LGBTQ2+ community and our musicality and performance is supported by our commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for singers, staff, volunteers, and audience members.
In recent years, OVC has made strides to centre artistic efforts on telling stories that have not always been included in the choral community. These include a Bridges concert in collaboration with local Indigenous communities, a performance of The Watershed Stories (including the commission of an additional story about trans experiences), and a retrospective about Club Carousel (Calgary’s first gay club) in collaboration with a local historian.
Our Mission
One Voice Chorus Society provides a supportive environment for LGBTQ2+ singers and allies to sing, learn, perform, and share within an artistic, community-focused organization.
Our Vision
One Voice Chorus makes a meaningful contribution to the greater community through musical excellence and serves as a beacon for the LGBTQ2+ community.
For more information about One Voice Chorus, visit onevoicechorus.ca.
Summary Job Description
The artistic director (AD) leads the choir, both musically and in terms of maintaining an inclusive choral community, and is supported by the board of directors, staff, ombudsperson and section leaders. The AD will exemplify artistic leadership and support the OVC mission and vision. The role of the AD is to oversee all artistic matters, auditions, rehearsals, retreats, sectionals, smaller group performances, concerts, community building, fundraising events, choir administration, choir communication, auditions and recruitment, record keeping, reporting and regulatory compliance, and programming for OVC. The AD reports to the OVC board of directors (including attending a monthly two-hour board meeting) and collaborates with the OVC membership to embrace a diversity of perspectives, musical talent, musical ideas, and community outreach.
OVC weekly rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7:15 – 9:15pm including a social snack break.
Additional rehearsals include bimonthly sectionals for each section and dress rehearsals. The annual concert schedule typically includes two concerts (December and June), one major fundraising event, and occasional smaller group performances. OVC aims to perform at Unison Choruses Canada Festival (May 19-22, 2023) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the AD conducting.
The AD’s focus will be to maintain the integrity of the OVC community and supporting preparation for a successful 2022/23 season. The position is posted for 12 months with the possibility of extension. Subject to COVID-19 restrictions, the AD should be prepared to adapt to a virtual choral environment.
Qualifications and Experience
Music:
- Previous experience as a choral conductor.
- Strong understanding of pedagogy and vocal technique.
- Knowledge and comfort with a diversity of musical genres.
- Experience adapting teaching style, vocal technique, and technologies to meet a diversity of needs and range of musical talent.
- Ability to inspire creativity and growth in singers.
- Experience supporting singers undergoing vocal transition would be an asset.
- Experience working in a virtual choir environment would be an asset.
- Formal musical education and additional musical training and musical experience beyond conducting would be an asset but is not a requirement.
Bridges:
- Ability to outline and communicate artistic vision for welcoming community events
- Experience producing concerts or community-oriented events in a collaborative environment
- Interest in programming material that broadens the horizons of choristers, performers, and audience members would be an asset
- Experience planning inclusive choral or community events, including experience working with an event planner or event coordinator, would be an asset
- Knowledge of and experience working with not-for-profit and community arts groups would be an asset
Community:
- Strong commitment to fostering a diverse choral community, and a commitment to learn about the intersectionality of LGBTQ2+ identities with other experiences including race, Indigenous identity, ability, age, and income.
- Ability to create and manage a rehearsal environment that is inclusive, fun and educational.
- Willingness to understand and support diverse chorister needs in the OVC community, including arranging accommodations one-on-one with choristers.
- Make reasonable efforts to attend the non-singing aspects of maintaining an inclusive OVC community as they occur, including educational workshops, cultural events and social gatherings.
- Experience facilitating social connection among choristers or communities would be an asset.
The successful candidate will:
- Have experience with choral conducting.
- Have ability to sing and/or play all parts (SATB).
- Demonstrate excellent leadership skills.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills.
- Bring out the best in each singer and section.
- Demonstrate willingness to work in both online and in-person environments.
Remuneration:
- This is a 12 month contract, August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023.
- Hours and compensation are negotiable, with a minimum of 10 hours and the potential to increase, and remuneration on a scale starting from $15,000 annually.
Expectation of hours fluctuates somewhat during the year. Hours can increase during performance periods and can be less during periods such as summer break. This base compensation includes extra remuneration for gig group presentations and directing the choir at choral festivals. A per diem is also paid for travel to choral festivals.
Applications should include the following:
- Cover letter, including a brief outline of artistic vision 2022/23 OVC season.
- Resume of relevant experience.
- Samples of past concert programs that exemplify your work.
- Examples of demonstrated ‘growth’ or ‘health’ of the choir they were part of.
Optional: Video sample(s) demonstrating directing style in concert and/or rehearsal settings.
All interested applicants should apply by email no later than June 15, 2022 to searchandselection@
Please also email with any questions regarding this posting.
