Intermezzo Choir Director, 2024–25

2024-2025 Season, January thru June

Days of Service
‍Rehearsals Tuesdays and Wednesdays 5:00-6:30pm, plus concerts (March 15th and tentatively June 14th)

First Rehearsal
‍Tuesday January 7th

BYC follows the BSD calendar and takes the following breaks: one-week Thanksgiving break, two-week winter break, one-week midwinter break, one-week spring break.‍

‍Job Specifics
‍BYC seeks an experienced elementary school choral director with Kodály background to join our team and work with choristers between 3rd and 6th grade (predominantly 3rd-5th). The ideal candidate is collaborative and able to work with the entire Bellevue Youth Choirs organization, has a passion for youth choral education, and the ability to teach healthy vocal technique, musicianship, artistry, and teamwork through diverse repertoire selections and engaging classroom activities.

Rehearsals
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:00-6:30pm. Directors are expected to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to rehearsal to prepare their space and be ready for choristers.

Please note we have a modified rehearsal schedule the two-three weeks prior to a concert. Your choir may start or end at slightly different times. Additional teaching time will be compensated.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Music or Music Education; knowledge of and experience with the Kodály approach preferred.
Passion for choral music education and prior experience teaching children in a classroom setting.Experience with choral music and conducting children’s choirs preferred.
Comfort and experience teaching music in foreign languages.
Ability to analyze and select developmentally appropriate, diverse repertoire that aligns with student needs and program mission. Able to clearly articulate the learning objectives and reasoning behind repertoire choices in program notes.
Skill in planning and leading rehearsals that are developmentally appropriate and engaging.
Proven classroom management skills, including the ability to maintain a positive, structured environment and high behavior expectations, while providing reasonable accommodations for choristers with learning or sensory needs.
Strong vocal technique modeling, including light head-voice singing, blending, and proper breathing techniques.
Ability to conduct an ensemble effectively.
Collaborative approach when working with BYC teachers, pianists, and instrumentalists for rehearsals and concerts.
Effective, responsive communication skills for timely interaction with choristers, parents, and staff.
A commitment to fostering community, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging, with a desire to see BYCgrow and thrive.

Primary Responsibilities

Teach rehearsals with a provided accompanist.
Arrive 20 minutes prior to rehearsal to prepare for choristers.
Plan lessons that achieve the following:
- Carefully select diverse repertoire that is culturally appropriate and supports choristers’ musical growth.
- Teach fundamentals of healthy vocal technique including singing in head voice at an appropriate volume.
- Teach fundamentals of rhythm, solfege, IPA, and other musicianship skills outlined in BYC’s chorister evaluations.
- Foster a sense of joy in communal music making through fun repertoire and games.
Be a confident vocal model for students in rehearsal.
Serve as a role model (rehearsal technique, mutual respect, musical/vocal) for choristers in all choir levels.
Teach and conduct the choir in the remaining two mainstage concerts per year. Tentative dates: March 15th, June 14th
- At concerts, oversee your ensemble backstage with the assistance of parent volunteers.
Attend monthly staff meetings (virtual) at mutually agreed upon times. Currently the first Monday of each month from 4:15-5:15pm.
Provide program notes for each concert detailing why repertoire was selected and what choristers are learning for your two selected pieces.
Provide practice recordings for your choir each concert in the form of YouTube links or short instructional videos from rehearsal uploaded to the shared parent folder.
Communicate with choristers, parents, and staff about behavior expectations, attendance, and other matters pertaining to chorister and director needs.
Evaluate chorister progress, discuss eligible choristers for promotion with the AD, and provide chorister evaluations to chorister families in the spring.
Assist with recruitment and retention.

Mission Statement
The mission of Bellevue Youth Choirs is to create a joyful, inclusive musical community for youth by providing exemplary musicianship training and exciting performance opportunities.

About BYC
Bellevue Youth Choirs (BYC) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2012 and is comprised of a variety of choir levels serving youth in Pre-K through 12th+ grade from the greater Bellevue area. Choristers learn musicianship, vocal technique, performance skills, and participate in mainstage concerts, outreach and community events, and collaborations with the finest musicians and choral groups. The auditioned choirs participate in regional choral festivals and tours.

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