IMPORTANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
- Upload Resume or Curriculum Vitae for automatic population of information to the application.
Job Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Collaborative Keyboard at the open rank. We seek an accomplished and imaginative artist-educator who will contribute equally through excellent teaching and mentorship, an active program of performance and creative or scholarly inquiry, and collaborative leadership within the School.
The successful candidate will join a vibrant, student-centered community in which performers, educators, composers, scholars, therapists, producers, and creative partners work across disciplines to advance artistic excellence and prepare students for meaningful, adaptable careers in music. This position offers an opportunity to shape the future of collaborative keyboard at the Cali School while maintaining an active professional profile and developing innovative learning and performance opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
Faculty members are expected to contribute to the University's mission through excellence in teaching, research/scholarship, and service.
Teaching: The successful candidate will teach and coach undergraduate and graduate students in areas aligned with their expertise and the needs of the School. In addition to offering Keyboard area courses, responsibilities may include chamber music coaching, vocal coaching for opera and musical theatre, private keyboard instruction, and collaboration with vocal and instrumental ensembles. The faculty member will advise and mentor students, support recruitment and auditions, and foster an inclusive learning environment that develops versatile, collaborative, and professionally prepared musicians.
In addition, the successful candidate will provide artistic and administrative leadership for collaborative keyboard activities across the Cali School. Responsibilities may include coordinating collaborative assignments, contributing to curriculum and program development, supporting instructional faculty and collaborative artists, strengthening concerts and interdisciplinary projects, and helping to develop equitable and sustainable processes for the School’s extensive performance activities.
The standard annual load for tenure-track faculty is 12 teaching credit hours (TCH) a semester, with reassigned time (course release) available for faculty with additional responsibilities such as mentoring doctoral faculty or administering programs. Faculty are expected to center student success and measurable learning outcomes through clear course design, inclusive pedagogies, and the integration of emerging disciplinary and pedagogical developments. Responsibilities include classroom instruction, student mentoring and advising, and developing and updating courses and curricula aligned with student demands and institutional strategic priorities.
Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity: Faculty are expected to be productive scholars or artists whose work embodies formal inquiry or creative expression that expands, enhances, or applies knowledge. Research results must be shared in significant national and/or international scholarly or artistic venues following rigorous review. The University supports these endeavors through the Faculty Scholarship Program (FSP), which typically provides research-active faculty with up to 6 TCH of reassigned time per academic year to pursue their scholarly agenda.
The successful candidate will maintain an active program of performance, research, and creative or scholarly activity appropriate to a tenure-track appointment. This work may include collaborative performance, recording, coaching, interdisciplinary projects, residencies, conference presentations, publications, or other forms of artistic and intellectual contribution. The faculty member will be encouraged to connect professional practice with student learning and to build collaborations across the School, University, and broader cultural community.
Service: Faculty members are expected to perform valuable service to the college/school, university, and professional communities. This includes participating in shared governance, academic program vitality, and sharing professional expertise within and beyond the University. Service activities are separate and distinct from the specific assignments for which faculty members receive course release.
THE JOHN J. CALI SCHOOL OF MUSIC:
The John J. Cali School of Music offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education, music performance, music therapy, theory/composition, jazz studies, and recording arts and production, as well as a two-year Artist's Diploma and one-year Performer's Certificate. The Cali School collaborates with the Theater and Dance Department to provide voice instruction for students in the nationally recognized BFA Musical Theater program. Twenty-one full-time faculty members (fourteen of whom are tenured) and approximately 200 part-time instructors serve more than 500 students, who matriculate through a competitive admissions process. The school maintains strong relationships with professional performance and educational organizations along with several music schools around the world, and in the 21-22 Academic Year launched two major new initiatives with the Cali Pathways Project, focused on reducing barriers for burgeoning musicians in under-resourced communities, and the Cali Immersive Residency program, embedding world-renowned artists and ensembles for week-long residencies at the school. Its facilities provide a conservatory-like setting, consisting of the 235-seat Jed Leshowitz Recital Hall, teaching studios, music practice and rehearsal rooms, and faculty studios. Our students and faculty engage in over 300 concerts and recitals each year.
THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS:
The College of the Arts (CART) at Montclair State University is a dynamic, collaborative, and inspiring community. With more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs across the Department of Art & Design, the John J. Cali School of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Dance, CART is a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation. Over 2,000 diverse and talented students bring our state-of-the-art studios, stages, and classrooms to life every day, supported by passionate academic advisors and a career services team dedicated to their success. Programs are rigorous, creative, and designed to meet the needs of all students while offering rich opportunities for experiential learning, performance, and internships. Our faculty is a powerhouse of working composers, designers, actors, musicians, choreographers, conductors, fine artists, scholars, and professionals – Fulbright, Guggenheim, and Howard Award recipients among them – who shape the next generation through close mentorship and hands-on learning. The College is also home to the University Art Galleries, Arts and Cultural Programming, and Broadcast and Media Operations, anchoring deep connections with corporate and arts partners. Whether on campus or in the broader community, CART pulses with energy, excellence, and the belief that the arts can transform lives.
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED:
● Earned appropriate terminal degree in music or a related field, or possess equivalent distinguished professional experience.
● Record of achievement and/or potential for future success in research, scholarship, or creative activity.
● Demonstrated excellence in teaching a broad range of students.
● Demonstrated professional achievement and/or potential in collaborative performance.
● A record that demonstrates interest and commitment to service.
PREFERRED:
● Significant record of scholarly/creative work with clear potential for a distinguished career as a performing artist, educator, and/or scholar at both national and international levels
● Strong background in program development, including student recruitment, concert planning, and artistic leadership
● Experience working across a variety of musical disciplines and genres.
● Proficiency in lyric diction in several languages.
● Strong artistic, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
STARTING DATE: August 27, 2027
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
● Cover letter, curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, and representative publications where applicable (publications may include commercial recordings, concert programs, and/or scholarly books and articles), which can be uploaded during the application process.
● Links to recent recordings of at least two collaborative performances, rehearsals, masterclasses, or other relevant collaborative activity.
● Candidates who are shortlisted will be asked to supply 3 letters of recommendation separately.
APPLY BY: The position is open until filled, and application review begins immediately. Applications received by October 16, 2026 will receive priority consideration. Questions may be addressed to the search chair, Prof. Aaron Helgeson, at helgesona@montclair.edu.
Salary Range
$80,309.12-$136,463.80 Annually
The position may also be eligible for comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and tuition assistance. For further details, please visit: https://www.montclair.edu/human-resources/benefits/
Montclair State University considers factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s relevant work experience, education, skills, and internal equity, when extending an offer.
Salary offers for internal employees who are part of a collective bargaining unit (CBU) and are applying to a position that is within a CBU will be determined in accordance with contractual provisions.
Department
Cali School of Music
Position Type
Faculty
Contact Information:
For questions or concerns, please contact Human Resources' Workday Recruiting Support at 973-655-5000 (Option 2), or email talent@montclair.edu .
Inclusion Statement
Montclair State University values access and educational excellence. We are committed to an environment of diverse perspectives which ensures that graduates will be civically engaged, committed to democracy, and prepared to thrive as global citizens. We foster a community that promotes varied experiences and voices. We seek applicants who will contribute diverse ideas and perspectives and who value an environment that promotes educational growth and advancement for all.
EEO/AA Statement
Montclair State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution with a strong commitment to diversity.
Additional information can be found on the website at
www.montclair.edu/human-resources/about-us/eo-aa-and-diversity/
Title IX and 34 C.F.R. 106 Policy
Montclair State is required by Title IX and 34 C.F.R. 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex or gender, and does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in the operation of education programs and activities. The requirement to not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in the operation of education programs and activities extends to admission and employment. For further details, please visit: https://www.montclair.edu/human-resources/job-seekers/