January, 2025
Announcement
The Germantown Symphony Orchestra (GSO), an all-volunteer community orchestra in Germantown/Memphis, Tennessee, is inviting candidates to apply for the Music Director-Conductor Position. The GSO will be accepting applications from January 15, 2025 to March 1, 2025, with the new appointment to officially begin Summer/Fall 2026.
Music Director-Conductor Position
The Music Director-Conductor is a part-time position with a range of responsibilities (see below), and the Music Director-Conductor serves as an ex-officio member of the GSO board. The GSO is a self-governing organization, and the Board is comprised of GSO members as described in the orchestra Bylaws.
Experience
Interested candidates with at least 5 years of conducting experience and a graduate degree in music and/or orchestral conducting are encouraged to apply. Candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance of Germantown, TN and desire to build a long-term relationship with the GSO.
Compensation
The Music Director-Conductor stipend is in the range of $12,000 to $14,000 per year, commensurate with education and experience. This stipend range is consistent with compensation for a part-time, volunteer, community orchestra music director position in the US.
Benefits
GSO does not provide individual benefits to the Music Director-Conductor such as life insurance or medical insurance.
Music Director-Conductor Responsibilities
While the general responsibilities of the Music Director-Conductor are listed in the GSO Bylaws, a more detailed list of key responsibilities is below:
Education
Prepare educational events to help interested players improve individual and ensemble skills
Include educational aspects in rehearsals and concerts
Encourage and support music education in local schools
Desired Leader Behaviors
The Music Director-Conductor serves as an ambassador for GSO to Germantown/Memphis and Mid-South Communities. The GSO is seeking a person with public engagement and speaking skills who can create a positive, trusting, and educational approach to rehearsals and concerts. This person needs to be comfortable leading a wide range of ages and musical abilities reflective of an adult, all -volunteer community orchestra, all the while encouraging artistic excellence.
How to Apply
Interested Applicants should submit the following to: [email protected]
Music Director-Conductor Position
The Music Director-Conductor is a part-time position with a range of responsibilities (see below), and the Music Director-Conductor serves as an ex-officio member of the GSO board. The GSO is a self-governing organization, and the Board is comprised of GSO members as described in the orchestra Bylaws.
Experience
Interested candidates with at least 5 years of conducting experience and a graduate degree in music and/or orchestral conducting are encouraged to apply. Candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance of Germantown, TN and desire to build a long-term relationship with the GSO.
Compensation
The Music Director-Conductor stipend is in the range of $12,000 to $14,000 per year, commensurate with education and experience. This stipend range is consistent with compensation for a part-time, volunteer, community orchestra music director position in the US.
Benefits
GSO does not provide individual benefits to the Music Director-Conductor such as life insurance or medical insurance.
Music Director-Conductor Responsibilities
While the general responsibilities of the Music Director-Conductor are listed in the GSO Bylaws, a more detailed list of key responsibilities is below:
- Plan concert programs
- Plan Classical, Pops and Themed programs that will be interesting and educational for audiences and rewarding for members to play, with input from the orchestra
- Ensure music includes a balance of geographical, chronological, style, and genre elements, as appropriate
- Review GSO library and other sources of music for programs and plan within music budget
- Prepare music for rehearsals and performances
- Ensure string parts are prepared with bowings
- Insert extra rehearsal figures as needed for efficient rehearsals
- Work collaboratively with part-time librarian
- Lead weekly (Thursday evening) rehearsals and 6 to 8 concerts per season
- Travel to Mid-South venues for rehearsals/performances
- Secure a cover conductor when and if necessary, working within budget
- Evaluate new concert venues, as needed
- Identify and help to secure guest artists and other collaborators
- Suggest and help secure guest artists and guest conductors, working within budget
- Conduct and collaborate with choral groups as needed (e.g. Holiday concert)
- Build new and continuing relationships with artists and artistic groups
- Work with collaborative artists, artist groups, and young artists on concerts
- Serve as adjudicator for Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition
- Assist with concert promotion and publicity, as needed
- Ensure program notes for concerts are prepared
- Provide information as needed for website, concert posters, and programs
- Arrange, schedule and lead interviews about concerts with local media and appear as needed
- Work with personnel managers
- Assess personnel capabilities/needs and assist with issues that may arise
- Consult about substitutes, ringers
- Welcome new prospective members and keep up with current members
- Attend and participate in regular board meetings
- Inform and consult with board members and officers about musical matters
- Assist with budget planning in consultation with the GSO board
- Help guide the artistic direction of the GSO, with input from the orchestra
Education
Prepare educational events to help interested players improve individual and ensemble skills
Include educational aspects in rehearsals and concerts
Encourage and support music education in local schools
Desired Leader Behaviors
The Music Director-Conductor serves as an ambassador for GSO to Germantown/Memphis and Mid-South Communities. The GSO is seeking a person with public engagement and speaking skills who can create a positive, trusting, and educational approach to rehearsals and concerts. This person needs to be comfortable leading a wide range of ages and musical abilities reflective of an adult, all -volunteer community orchestra, all the while encouraging artistic excellence.
How to Apply
Interested Applicants should submit the following to: [email protected]
- Letter of Interest
- Resume/Curriculum vitae
- References
- Links to audio and/or video samples of your recent work with an orchestra
GSO Background
The GSO is a non-profit organization and the oldest volunteer community orchestra in Tennessee. The orchestra is comprised of mostly adult members ranging in musical ability. The GSO has had four Music Directors in its 50-year history, and the GSO’s current Music Director-Conductor, Dr Ronald Vernon, will be retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 season, after leading the orchestra for 25 years.
The mission of the GSO is to encourage the development of young musicians and to enrich the lives of its musicians and the Mid-South community through the presentation of live music of enduring quality. The GSO exists to (1) promote the performance of a wide variety of orchestral and ensemble music; (2) provide its members with education in theoretical and practical musical skills; and (3) promote camaraderie through participation in musical productions and entertainment.
Each season, the GSO offers 3 to 4 “Pops” concerts around the Mid-South and 3 to 4 Classical and Themed local Concerts, such as the Annual Holiday Concert and Annual Young Artist Concert. (The GSO holds an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition.) The GSO’s Music Season runs from August to June.
The GSO is also the resident Community Orchestra of The Germantown Performing Arts Centre.
Nondiscrimination Policy
The GSO with its commitment to contribute to the performing arts community and music education, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in any of its activities or operations. The GSO membership is open to any persons desiring an inclusive and welcoming environment to share their music abilities.
The mission of the GSO is to encourage the development of young musicians and to enrich the lives of its musicians and the Mid-South community through the presentation of live music of enduring quality. The GSO exists to (1) promote the performance of a wide variety of orchestral and ensemble music; (2) provide its members with education in theoretical and practical musical skills; and (3) promote camaraderie through participation in musical productions and entertainment.
Each season, the GSO offers 3 to 4 “Pops” concerts around the Mid-South and 3 to 4 Classical and Themed local Concerts, such as the Annual Holiday Concert and Annual Young Artist Concert. (The GSO holds an annual Young Artist Concerto Competition.) The GSO’s Music Season runs from August to June.
The GSO is also the resident Community Orchestra of The Germantown Performing Arts Centre.
Nondiscrimination Policy
The GSO with its commitment to contribute to the performing arts community and music education, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in any of its activities or operations. The GSO membership is open to any persons desiring an inclusive and welcoming environment to share their music abilities.