"Assistant or Associate Professor of Music, Director of Vocal Studies, Tenure Track, Fall 2026"

Job Details

Description

Position Summary

The Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Vocal Studies at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Music, beginning August 2026. We seek an experienced and visionary vocal educator to lead the vocal area, provide excellent applied voice instruction, and help guide the next generation of vocal performers and pedagogues. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching, student recruitment and retention, and artistic and scholarly achievement.

General Information

Chapman University is a nationally-ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 87 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including Schmid College of Science and Technology, offer 65 bachelor's, 53 master's, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners.

The College of Performing Arts brings together the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, the Department of Dance, and the Department of Theatre. This partnership strengthens each discipline, while positioning the College of Performing Arts as the cultural and aesthetic center of Chapman University. We offer 7 degrees for about 450 majors who benefit from scholarship, creativity, free expression and intellectual curiosity both in the classroom and while performing in some of the hundreds of performances offered annually at one of several performing arts venues on campus. Our most prestigious venue, The Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, hosts an array of world-renowned performers as well as showcases student and faculty work. The alignment of this venue with the college advances our position at the forefront of performing arts education.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Director of Vocal Studies, providing leadership for the vocal program, including oversight of curricular planning, student advising, and program development.
• Coordinate the applied voice area, including studio assignments, mentoring and scheduling of adjunct faculty, and organizing juries, recitals, and departmental events.
• Teach applied voice and vocal pedagogy; additional teaching duties may include diction, song literature, or other courses aligned with the candidate’s expertise.
• Lead recruitment efforts for undergraduate and graduate voice students in collaboration with the Dean, Conservatory Chair, and Admissions team.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Choral Studies and the Director of Opera Chapman, participating in auditions and in talent scholarship distribution. Contribute to collaborative concerts/projects within the Conservatory of Music and College of Performing Arts.
• Participate in Conservatory, College, and University committees, and contribute actively to service and shared governance.
• Tenure-track faculty are expected to develop and maintain an active research agenda for future tenure consideration are are evaluated on their research/scholarly activity, teaching and service.

About the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music

The Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, housed within Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts (CoPA), is dedicated to developing the next generation of artists and scholars. With a strong emphasis on personalized instruction and professional preparation, the Conservatory offers undergraduate degrees in performance, composition, music education, music and culture, and music industry.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree in vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, or a related field required, and at least two years teaching at the collegiate level or commensurate experience is required.
• Demonstrated success in program building and student recruitment, including outreach to high schools and community colleges.
• A record of creative and/or scholarly activity appropriate to the candidate’s rank and career stage that supports progress toward tenure.
• Deep understanding of college-level vocal training, including familiarity with the vocal development of both undergraduate and high school students.
• Thorough knowledge of both standard and forward-thinking vocal repertoire as well as an open approach to configurations that expand the boundaries of standard vocal genres.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive teaching experience in applied voice at the university level is expected; all voice types welcome, with soprano voice type preferred.
• Experience organizing collaborative concerts.

Application Instructions

To ensure full consideration, please submit the following materials online:

1. Cover letter detailing qualifications and interest in the position
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Teaching philosophy statement.
4. Three current letters of recommendation, including contact information (phone and email).

Inquiries about the position should be directed to:

Vocal Search Committee, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at music@chapman.edu

Please include "Vocal Studies Director Position” as the email subject line.

Timeline: The position will remain open until it is filled; prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by November 1st.

Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate. The salary range for this position is $80,000-$100,000. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. This position is contingent on final budget approval.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.