Director of Music

Reporting to the Director of Arts and the Dean of Faculty, the Director of Music teaches music classes and works collaboratively with music faculty, adjunct instructors, and other visual and performing arts colleagues to support and administer a music program characterized by excellence, strong student participation, and meaningful community engagement.

Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Set and maintain the mission and vision of the Music Program, in alignment with Deerfield Academy’s core values, and in the best interests of students;
• Promote, organize, and facilitate public demonstrations of the Music Program, including on-campus, domestic, and international performances, and with the Director of Arts, ensure cohesion of those events with other campus events by effectively communicating about schedules and content;
• Effectively collaborate with colleagues within the Visual and Performing Arts Department, and across campus, to create and promote a spirit of collegiality and respect;
• Support Music performances for major campus events, including Commencement, Baccalaureate, Convocation, MLK Day, and other Academy events as needed;
• Produce and coordinate the guest artist series, including communication with artists and collaboration with the Director of Arts and relevant Academy offices; 
• Prioritize the well-being of students within the Music Program, and communicate effectively and urgently about student health and well-being with advisors, class deans, and Deerfield’s health and medical professionals;
• Steward the Academy’s budgetary resources devoted to the Music Program by carefully tracking program spending to ensure it fits within budgeted totals, participating in yearly budget planning, and making capital requests when needed;
• Ensure proper management and storage of materials and equipment used by the Arts Program, in collaboration with campus partners;
• Communicate with prospective and current families of Deerfield students, and effectively share information about opportunities for families to engage with the Arts Program through performances, exhibitions, and more.

Teaching

• Teach two music courses every term in subject areas of expertise, including one in an instrumental performance music class (like Band or Chamber Music), and one in Music Production, Composition, or Analysis;
• Conduct the Deerfield community Orchestra, made up of students, faculty, staff, and select professional musicians, in Monday evening rehearsals and in two major performances per year, with brief showcases on family weekends;
• Serve as Head Coach of the Music Co-curricular for three terms (Fall, Winter, and Spring) during the week, including leadership of The Other Doors house band at School Meetings, and the organization of service performances once per term;
• Support other teachers in the Music Program in reviewing and updating their courses’ curriculum and repertoire as needed;
• With the Director of Arts, schedule and manage public presentations of the Music Program, including performances, exhibitions, and more;
• Collaborate with other Arts program leaders in Dance, Theater, and Visual Arts on interdisciplinary projects in the academic, cocurricular, and extracurricular realms;
• Keep students and faculty advisors informed about registering for appropriate classes offered in the Music Program;
• With program colleagues, maintain and update the Music Program’s online content;
• Provide extra help for students in the Music Program’s academic, cocurricular, and extracurricular realms, during Deerfield’s weekly Extra Help time, and at other times as arranged.

Recruitment, Admissions, and Yield

• Develop Program strategies for recruitment, retention, and yield of prospective students, including the presentation of Arts at Open Houses, Spring Visit Days, and other public events;
• Collaborate with the Admissions Office to attract prospective students, meet applicants, and maintain communications with students who express a strong interest in Music at Deerfield;
• Review video recordings from prospective applicants, submitted via SlideRoom, to identify students who would make a verified impact on our Music Program;
• Collaboratively review and approve Program promotional materials designed by the Admissions Office and Communications;
• Actively encourage new and current students and adult members of the community to join the program’s activities, and provide extra support for students trying the Program for the first time, and those with less experience.

Staff Supervision

• Manage Deerfield’s adjunct Music Faculty, including overseeing coordination, communication, support, and program alignment;
• Assess staffing needs to anticipate timely hiring of part-time and intermittent Music Lesson Instructors and Coaches;
• Coordinate recruitment and orientation through Human Resources, according to the Academy’s stated Best Practices in Hiring; 
• Approve accurate time and attendance of all work performed by Music Lesson Instructors and Coaches to ensure timely payment of wages.

Advising:

• Advise 6 - 8 students to assist them with their academic and personal challenges and liaise with parents in an effective and timely way;
• Meet individually and regularly with each of their advisees to help them adapt to and thrive in Deerfield life;
• Monitor advisees’ academic progress, direct them to additional support if necessary, and guide them through the course selection process;
• Encourage advisees to stretch themselves and take advantage of Deerfield’s co-curricular program, extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities;
• Meet with their advisees for lunch once a week and generally engage in meetings with them once every two weeks;
• Write two advisor reports per year, one in January and the other in June, to record the personal and academic progress of each one of their advisees.

Other:

• Supervise a table in the dining hall four-to-five times per week to engage students in family-style meals, promoting civil conversation and small group interactions;
• Attend department and or faculty meetings once a week;
• Participate on faculty committees as needed;
• Write college recommendations letters for students who make such a request;
• Monitor student progress and stay abreast of regular updates about schedules, programs and policies by reading school emails and the Employee FYIs;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who exhibit excellence in the classroom and who can help develop in students the fundamental learning traits outlined in The Deerfield Student and A Framework For Schools. Beyond the classroom, candidates must be prepared to fully engage in the activities and less formal spaces that help define a strong residential educational community. Additionally, candidates for this position will possess the following specific attributes/qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, advance degree preferred;
• 3-5 years of leadership experience within a musical organization or school music program;
• Demonstrated expertise as a conductor of musical ensembles;
• Proficiency with and ability to instruct students in Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) tools;
• Significant experience using Sibelius, or similar music notation software;
• Excellent communication skills;
• High level of patience and diplomacy;
• Excellent office, computer and data-entry skills;
• Excellent organization, oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to multi-task effectively; Ability to handle highly confidential information;
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
• Detail-oriented; A sense of humor;
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion and to serving the needs of a diverse community.

Physical Job Demands

• Close visual acuity to view a computer terminal, analyze text, data and/or figures, and to read for 2-5 hours at a time;
• Ability to frequently stand and/or sit for sustained periods of time;
• Ability to frequently reach items and paperwork;
• Ability to frequently sustain substantial movements of the wrists, hands and/or fingers;
• Ability to frequently receive and communicate information;
• Ability to occasionally stoop or kneel; Ability to occasionally lift/carry/push up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions

The worker is typically in an office environment and not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. 

Disclaimer

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification.  This job description is not intended to be construed as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. It is expected that job duties and responsibilities will develop over time commensurate with performance.

Application materials must include a cover letter (specific to this position) and a resume. Candidates may also submit a brief statement of educational philosophy.

Compensation & Benefits

Deerfield Academy offers a competitive total compensation package, where base compensation or salary is just one component. Pay within the published range is determined by factors such as qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, allowing for growth and progression within the role.

We also offer a comprehensive suite of benefits to eligible employees, including:

• Health & Financial: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b)-retirement plan; and employer-paid life and disability plans.
• Time Off: Generous paid time off and paid holidays.
• Campus Perks: Tuition remission, fitness center access and complimentary dining hall meals

See benefit plan details here.