Candidate & Position Description MUSIC DIRECTOR
Organization Overview
Our Mission:
To be a catalyst for an inspired community through live and innovative musical performances of the highest quality.
The Winston-Salem Symphony (WSS) is one of oldest and most respected professional arts organizations in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad, an area of over 1.6 million residents that serves as one of the primary manufacturing and transportation hubs of the southeastern United States. Recognized as an artistic leader and lauded for its high quality performances, the Winston-Salem Symphony was established in 1946 as a civic orchestra on the campus of Salem College, incorporated as a professional orchestra in 1952, and hired its first full-time conductor (Maestro John Iuele) in 1955. Since then, two other exceptional Music Directors have led and nurtured the artistic growth of the orchestra: Maestro Peter Perret (1979-2004) and Maestro Robert Moody (2005-2018).
Over the past 70 years, the Winston-Salem Symphony has grown into a nationally recognized regional orchestra employing 78 professional musicians on a per service basis. Under Robert Moody’s inspiring leadership, the Winston- Salem Symphony has experienced remarkable growth, artistically and otherwise. During his tenure, the orchestra added to its strong Classics Series and core in-school music education programs new Kicked-Back Classics, Plugged-In Pops, and Discovery Concerts for Kids performance series, two annual performances of A Carolina Christmas as a Pops add-on, two annual performances of Handel’s Messiah, and Concert for Community (a second free full-orchestra concert including a side-by-side performance with our most advanced Youth Orchestras Program ensemble). It has also assimilated the Youth Orchestras program it has been a key partner in for decades, adding a third ensemble to the program; and most recently it started a new Academy of Music & Arts partnership with The Salvation Army of Greater Winston-Salem that provides free after-school instrumental music instruction to under-served youth.
Overall, the orchestra currently performs 35-40 concerts of classical masterworks and popular repertory each year. The Symphony also boasts a nearly 120-voice volunteer Symphony Chorale and an inspiring music education program that includes a wide array of in-school and community-based education offerings.
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A volunteer Board of Directors comprised of 40 elected and five ex-officio Directors governs the Winston-Salem Symphony. Merritt Vale has served as President and CEO for 18 years, leading an administrative team of 12 full-time/4 part-time personnel, and 2 contract team members. The WSS has successfully balanced its budget 14 of the last 17 completed fiscal years. This consistent success is attributable primarily to a period of increasing ticket sales and individual donations, and the earnings from a modest but growing endowment.
The Symphony is presently engaged in the “Quiet Phase” of a major Comprehensive Campaign, the first major fundraising campaign in 20 years and only the second major campaign in its history. The campaign seeks to raise $7 million in support of initiatives supporting two key areas of focus: Artistic Excellence and Engagement and Education. The campaign is expected to produce support for both project and endowment-oriented initiatives, including providing funds to support experimentation with innovative artistic, audience development, and education-focused offerings, with guidance from our new Music Director’s vision and our donors’ passions.
For more information about the WSS, visit the WSS website at: www.WSsymphony.org.
Community & Region
Winston-Salem, known as the “City of Arts and Innovation,” is located in the heart of North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region. Formed in 1913 when “Winston” (founded in 1849) joined with the adjacent Moravian community of “Salem” (founded in 1766), Winston-Salem is the fifth largest city in the state, with a population of over 241,000.
Served by four interstate highways and an international airport, the Piedmont Triad is conveniently located an equidistant short trip to Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, as well as halfway between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. North Carolina enjoys a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a culture infused with a rich history and wonderful recreational opportunities, with access to world-class health care, and outstanding arts and sporting events.
Winston-Salem is situated in close proximity to a variety of beautiful landscapes, with the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the sunny warm-water beaches of the Atlantic Coast to the east. The region offers more than 3,500 acres of parks and recreation areas suitable for year-round enjoyment and boasts a cost of housing that is 20 percent lower than the national average.
Celebrated for its long-standing tradition of supporting the arts, the benefits of living in Winston-Salem include a vibrant downtown full of history, music, and the visual and performing arts. It also offers a lively and growing culinary scene, a thriving array of regional vineyards, and an exciting explosion of craft breweries and distilleries.
Historically a thriving manufacturing town, the City’s most enduring identity comes from its arts heritage with its deep roots in the traditions of its Moravian fore-bearers. Today’s Winston-Salem has transformed from a manufacturing focus into a lively community of arts and culture, home to many arts institutions including Piedmont Opera, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Old Salem Museum & Gardens, River Run International Film Festival, the National Black Repertory Theatre and its celebrated National Black Theatre Festival, Piedmont Craftsmen, the nation’s first arts council, and much more.
It is home to a vibrant network of highly respected colleges and universities, including Wake Forest University, Winston- Salem State University, Salem College & Academy, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, along with state of the art medical and health care facilities, and a growing biotech/Innovation Quarter. Winston-Salem also boasts corporate/U.S. headquarters like HanesBrands, Inc., Krispy Kreme, Reynolds American, and BB&T Corporation, and a significant presence from other major corporations like Wells Fargo, Pepsi Cola, Inmar, B/E Aerospace, Herbalife, Lowe’s Foods, Caterpillar and more.
To learn more about Winston-Salem, North Carolina, visit the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Winston-Salem websites at: www.winstonsalem.com and www.visitwinstonsalem.com.
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Music Director Opportunity
Position Overview
The Winston-Salem Symphony seeks an experienced, innovative, inspiring, collaborative, and community-minded leader to craft and implement its artistic and educational vision and mission as it moves into the next chapter of its life in service to the region. Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2017. Finalists are expected to be selected by December 2017 and publicly announced by January 2018. The audition season will take place from September 2018 through May 2019 and the new Music Director will assume the podium for the 2019-2020 season.
Qualified candidates will have five to ten years of experience creating imaginative programming and conducting professional orchestras in classical, pops and children’s/family repertoire while serving as an Assistant, Associate or Resident Conductor.
The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional musical talent and a proven ability to provide performance experiences of the highest caliber. They will possess: a thorough knowledge of the orchestral repertoire and other musical styles, including orchestral concert music, works for chamber orchestra, operas, oratorios and popular music for adults and youth; a comprehensive knowledge of scores forming the core literature of each historical period or orchestral performance and will demonstrate self-awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses in specific repertoire. More generally, they must have: a scholar’s inquiring mind that constantly searches for the best information and research about performance practices; a comprehensive knowledge of the history of music and its relationship to the broader context of the history of civilization; and a broad knowledge of history, the visual arts, literature, and drama.
Programmatically, the successful candidate will demonstrate: an instinct for developing imaginative programming ideas that have significance to the orchestra, the occasion, and the community (which may require a willingness to explore a variety of directions in music-making and experience in diverse repertoire); an awareness of current solo artists, contemporary repertoire and performance practices; an interest in collaboration and a desire to explore prudent innovation. They must possess dynamic musical and personal leadership abilities that motivate and elicit the best efforts of musicians, and support effective artistic management practices. They must also have the skills, sensitivity, and personal confidence to build and maintain strong internal and external relationships.
Technically, the successful candidate will have: an acute ear for orchestral intonation, balance, and color; advanced skills in sight-reading and transposition; practical knowledge and understanding of all instruments used in orchestral performance; functional keyboard skills; advanced skills in musical analysis based on professional competence in counterpoint, harmony, composition, musical structures, and orchestration; mastery of various musical styles; interpretive skills that enable communication of the emotional content of a wide range of music; substantial knowledge of performance traditions; and mastery of at least one instrument and experience as a solo, chamber or orchestral performer to enable the development of musical insight and understanding or and sensitivity to the musician’s point of view.
The ideal candidate will also be prepared to commit to making the health, vibrancy, relevance, innovativeness and growth of the Winston-Salem Symphony their top priority.
The Music Director reports to the Winston-Salem Symphony Association Board of Directors and works in close consultation with the President & CEO, Board Chair, senior artistic operations staff, and other staff members within the limits set by the organization’s budget and the terms of Association and orchestra policies and agreements. The Music Director directly supervises the Assistant Conductor and the Symphony Chorale Director.
This position offers a robust benefits package subject to then current plans but likely to include employer-paid medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance premiums, life insurance to one-time annual salary (limit of $100,000); annual paid time off including three weeks of paid vacation, ten paid holidays, up to 6 paid sick days, and 10 paid Family Care days (12 weeks Family Care without pay); complimentary concert access, and more.
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Essential Job Accountabilities
Music Director & Conductor Responsibilities: Articulate and establish the overall artistic “quality” of the Winston-Salem Symphony. Create and implement artistic policy in accordance with the Association’s mission and strategic plan. Develop strategic artistic plans in collaboration with the Board of Directors, the President & CEO, and senior artistic operations and education staff, including plans for all series, seasonal, special and educational performance events: − Select the orchestral and choral works to be performed each season in consultation with other senior artistic operations and education staff and staff conductors including the Assistant Conductor, Symphony Chorale Director, and Youth Orchestras Program Conductors − Lead efforts to formulate the artistic vision for expanding the Symphony’s presence throughout the community – beyond the “traditional” concert hall − Select guest artists with the assistance of senior artistic operations staff and in a manner consistent with the budget − Present proposed programs and guest artists for all performance series and planned offerings to the Artistic Task Force, President & CEO and senior artistic operations staff no later than two seasons ahead of the scheduled performance season − Determine the number of rehearsals and other key logistical artistic requirements for each program and communicate to senior artistic operations staff, the Finance Director, Orchestra Personnel Manager & Librarian, and other staff for budget, artistic and operational planning Conduct agreed upon concerts. Select and approve orchestra personnel in accordance with the then-current Musician Master Agreement, including, but not limited to: conducting auditions, hiring, counseling and dismissing musicians, selecting principal players, and determining seating within a section. Manage, supervise and mentor the artistic accountabilities of the Assistant Conductor and the Symphony Chorale Director; advise and provide artistic direction to other members of the artistic staff and support needs of all staff members, as required. Establish new artistic and organizational perspectives by actively guest conducting other orchestras. These engagements must not conflict or compete with responsibilities as Music Director of the Winston-Salem Symphony. Audition and select staff conductor(s) as such position(s) are created; supervise or provide artistic leadership, direction and mentorship to conductors and artistic staff to support their attainment of the highest level of achievement possible. Propose guest conductor(s) as needed and approved by the Board of Directors, oversee and approve programs of all guest conductors. Serve as Artistic Advisor to all ensembles which operate under the Symphony umbrella, including but not limited to: the Symphony Chorale, Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras Program, and Academy of Music & Arts. Ensure that the Symphony Association’s artistic mission, vision, short- and long-range goals are communicated and understood throughout the organization and community. Provide essential input into the artistic voice and messaging of the Symphony, which is incorporated into many organizational, concert/event, marketing and fundraising communications.
Other Responsibilities: Serve as an ex officio voting member of the Association’s Board of Directors Work closely with the Association’s Board of Directors and staff, volunteers and other volunteer communities when relevant and possible. Become a highly visible part of the community through active participation in marketing, promotional and fundraising efforts on behalf of the Symphony. Develop strong working relationships with music educators (grade school through the university level) in the community and region. Represent the Association at official functions, including civic, educational and social events; enhance and sustain relationships and partnerships with other cultural and civic organizations within the region. Encourage other cultural activities within the community.
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Administrative Responsibilities: Work in close consultation with the President & CEO and Board of Directors on all matters or decisions that impact other areas of the organization, including budgeting, marketing and fundraising. Abide by the by-laws of and other policies reasonably established by the Association. Actively participate in establishing and reviewing progress against mutually agreed annual performance goals established with the Board of Directors. When away from Winston-Salem, maintain appropriate communications with the Board of Directors, President & CEO and staff as they may be required for the execution of the Music Director’s obligations. Participate in the development of Association tactical and strategic plans. Serve on the staff Leadership Team. Serve as staff liaison to the Artistic Task Force. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
In addition to those attributes, skills and abilities covered in the Position Overview, the ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills, impeccable integrity, discretion, sound judgment, a demonstrated ability to engender confidence and trust among individuals and groups with diverse interests and needs, and a demonstrated commitment to a culture of respect, empowerment and accountability. They will communicate effectively and in a compelling fashion to a wide range of constituents, both orally and in writing, inside and outside the organization.
The ideal candidate will also be a tenacious, action-oriented “doer” who is able to achieve results in a demanding environment; they will demonstrate consistent logic, rationality and objectivity in decision-making, showing common sense and anticipating the consequences of decisions. They will adjust quickly to changing priorities, cope effectively with complexity, and demonstrate the courage to take prudent risks. The highly qualified candidate will also be open to new ideas programming, presentation, music technology and innovative marketing in order to cultivate and expand new Symphony audiences over the next decade.
Required experience includes:
Five to ten years of experience conducting professional orchestras while serving as an Assistant, Associate or Resident Conductor Demonstrated experience programming and conducting classical, pops and children’s/family repertoire
Conditions of Employment
The Symphony reserves the right to conduct pre-employment credit, criminal history and other background checks on any applicant for employment. These checks may include, but are not limited to, previous and concurrent employment reference checks.
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