Study Area Leader: Choral Conducting

Ref:[RWCMD/0004]

[Part-Time Permanent]

Salary:Grade G

Deadline for Applications:28th October 2016

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced musician to lead the prestigious Choral Conducting training provision at the college. The successful applicant will be able to provide a learning environment of excellence which offers students every opportunity to develop their artistic potential, contribute significantly to key areas of activity and work collaboratively with colleagues and professional partners in order to enhance and promote an institutional reputation for innovation and industry leadership. Available on an annualised contract of 39 days per year,plus 5 days annual leave to be taken during college vacations.

(We regret we are unable to reconsider any candidate who has previously applied for this post)

The College welcomes applications from Welsh speakers and promotes the use of the Welsh Language in accordance with Welsh Language legislation and itsLinguistic Skills Strategy.

Mae’s Coleg yn croesawu ceisiadau oddi wrth siaradwyr Cymraeg ac yn hyrwyddo defnydd o’r Gymraeg yn unol â deddfwriaeth yn ymwneud â’r Gymraeg a’i Strategaeth Sgiliau Iaith.

Job Description

Job Title:Study Area Leader: Choral Conducting

Responsible to:Head of Opera, Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting

Main Purpose of Job
To provide a learning environment of excellence which offers choral conducting students in particular and music students in general every opportunity to develop their artistic potential. To contribute significantly to key areas of performance and related activities (including Chamber Choir, College Chorus, other choral ensembles, outreach work and pedagogy). To work collaboratively with colleagues and professional partners in order to enhance and promote an institutional reputation for innovation and industry leadership.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
Management Responsibilities

To lead and manage the Choral Conducting study area
To manage the delivery of Choral Conducting components in all teaching programmes
To recruit and line-manage Choral Conducting tutors
To contribute to strategic and operational planning processes in Music
To contribute to planning and delivery of the College’s performance schedule
To manage the study area’s contribution to income-generating activities including summer schools and specific events
To manage the study area’s quality assurance processes
To manage the study area’s budget
To take overall responsibility for health and safety within the Choral Conducting study area

Learning, Teaching and Assessment

To determine and implement learning, teaching and assessment strategies within the study area
To set and maintain academic standards within the study area
To oversee arrangements for ensemble activities in collaboration with colleagues
To teach, coach and conduct as required
To ensure that study area curricula are up-to-date and vocationally relevant
To ensure that all study area documentation is accurate
To manage examination and assessment procedures within the study area and to act as internal examiner, moderator or Chair of Panel when appropriate
To liaise with choral conducting associate examiners
To keep abreast of and promote current good practice in the learning and teaching of music at HE level

/ Student Support

To oversee the support of Choral Conducting students, to act as personal tutor and to ensure disabilities, specific learning needs and medical issues are appropriately supported
To monitor the academic progress of Choral Conducting students
To take an active role in the College’s procedures for tracking graduates
To offer careers advice and support to students and graduates and to write references as required

Recruitment, Admissions and Outreach

To pursue and active and strategic policy of national and international student recruitment
To audition applicants for Choral Conducting and to advise the Director of Music on the selection of home, EU and overseas applicants
To drive a programme of outreach activities to enhance the employability of students, widen access and to raise the profile of the College

Professional Responsibilities

To pursue purposeful, sustained contact with the profession to ensure Choral Conducting students benefit from the input of leading practitioners
To serve on College committees and working groups as appropriate
To pursue and ambassadorial role and represent the College in relevant national and international fora

Job Description (Continued)

The above duties and responsibilities are not exclusive or exhaustive and the post-holder will be required to undertake such duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

he Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has developed rapidly over recent years and, through the quality of its facilities, staff, performances, courses and industry profile, is now widely recognised as a leading centre for music and drama training and performance. An exciting challenge now is to develop key areas of activity in order for us to become truly distinctive, both and nationally and internationally. Within this context, our unique community of musicians, drama and design practitioners, composers, stage managers and arts managers all under the same roof offers exciting possibilities, as do our relationships with key stakeholders across the music industry.

The physical transformation of the College can be seen in its state-of-the-art public performance facilities (opened in 2011), including the Dora Stoutzker Hall (a 420-seat chamber recital hall), the Richard Burton Theatre (a 160-seat Courtyard Theatre), the Linbury Gallery (an impressive, integrated exhibition venue) and an associated range of high specification rehearsal spaces. These award-winning facilities now support an extensive annual public programme which extends to over 300 performances, encompassing recitals by visiting artists and ensembles, performances by college students and ensembles, high-profile residencies, festivals, drama productions by students and visiting companies, external hires, arts & educational conferences and exhibitions.

The integration of the performance programme and the training commitment to students is a defining feature of our approach and extends across all departments at the College. Our first team of International Chairs (supported by the Jane Hodge Foundation) was established a similar set of relationships with other artists of international reputation, including Barbara Bonney (voice), Christian Lindberg (trombone), PolinaLeschenko (Piano), Rachel Podger (Baroque Violin) and Simon Halsey (Choral Conducting). Their contribution added an exciting new dimension to the work and reputation of the College. Now, a second team of International Chairs is in place, with a particular view further to enhance the student experience and international profile of the College. The team includes: Daniel Phillips (Violin), Paul Watkins (Cello), Simon Keenleyside (Voice), John Fisher (Opera) and Carlo Rizzi (Conducting). An example of the input and impact of the work of our International Chairs is a recent performance of Britten's War Requiem in November 2014. Conducted by Carlo Rizzi and featuring Simon Keenleyside as bartione soloists, a chorus of some 300 and orchestra(s) of 120 was formed from the College's entire Music department. The chorus was trained by the Choral Conducting Study Area Leader, departmental tutors and choral conducting students, and the performance played to an audience of 1000 on Remembrance Sunday at St David's Hall in Cardiff.

A key feature of the College's training offer is the importance placed on robust creative links across the profession, both to provide students with relevant work experience during their studies and to enhance their subsequent prospects for employment. We enjoy long-standing relationships with the BBC National Orchestra and BBC National Chorus of Wales, and with the Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera. Advanced performers may audition for vocational placements with these organisations as part of their studies. We also enjoy strong connections with a broad range of smaller music and theatre companies, professional bodies, youth music organisations, arts festivals, music education services, agencies and recording studios.

Reflecting our central commitment to the vocational mission of the College, our entire portfolio of music programmes has been reviewed over recent years. All courses are now characterised by a balance of high quality performance and/or composition tuition with an integrated provision of professional development training. We thus aim not only to produce excellent practitioners, but also versatile musicians with the best possible chance of securing employment within their particular fields of expertise.

We typically seek to recruit between 4 and 6 postgraduate students per year for specialist study in choral conducting. These students pursue their training within one of two award schemes (Postgraduate Diploma or MMus). In addition to a range of scheduled classes, individual tuition and performance opportunities, students are encouraged to integrate with the wider student community and from there to pursue performance projects of their own devising. Modules in professional development, critical reflection and research techniques are also available, as are opportunities to undertake professional work placements, depending on the programme of study of each student. Further performance opportunities have typically be found within large-scale college productions and ensembles (including Schools Opera, Opera Scenes, College Chorus and Chamber Choir).

Person Specification

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Essential

Advanced Teaching Skills
Interpersonal Skills, including the ability to adopt a collegial approach
Solid organisational and administrative skills including the ability to meet deadlines and priorities competing demands
Positive, proactive and creative approach to problem solving
Ability to remain calm under pressure
Effective Communication Skills, oral and written
Word Processing Skills

/ Desirable

Ability to speak Welsh

KNOWLEDGE
Essential

In-depth knowledge of the professional field
Relevant music industry contexts
Professional Music networks

/ Desirable

The wider conservatoire and educational context

EXPERIENCE
Essential

Successful career as a choral conductor

/ Desirable

Teaching experience, preferably in HE

TRAINING
Essential

To hold an appropriate Masters Degree qualification or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience via industry or professional practice

/ Desirable

Higher Education teaching qualification

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential

Ability to manage change and motivate staff within a changing environment
Ability to act as an ambassador of the College
A commitment to the need to remain current in terms of scholarly and professional practice within the field

/ Desirable