"VCUarts Adjunct Instructor - Department of Music, Opera/Stage Director"

Job Details

Summary:
The Department of Music at Virginia Commonwealth University seeks to hire a part-time, adjunct instructor position specializing in Opera Directing for the Opera Theatre course (APPM 385) beginning on January 12, 2026.

The Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Music degree in Performance, the Bachelor of Arts, and the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. The department boasts a vibrant opera program that was founded 75 years ago. Throughout the years, the program has received many awards from the National Opera Association.

This position includes directing opera productions in the Department of Music. Productions take place in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the Singleton Center on the Monroe campus at VCU. Stage directors with professional opera experience and/ or within a university program are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate embraces both the traditional stagings of opera and modern approaches to the art form.

The Opera Director is responsible for directing and producing a fully staged opera production during the spring semester, casting and overseeing student performers, coordinating with the vocal coach and the conductor, serving on appropriate audition panels, and managing opera production personnel, including technical staff, designers, and other freelance production positions.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic opera director with a broad knowledge of repertoire at the University or professional level. The responsibilities of this position include:

- Serve as Opera Director of the Opera program in coordination with the Voice faculty.
- Prepare students for the annual fully staged spring opera production (Opera Theatre APPM 385) including attending all room staging and onstage rehearsals in collaboration with the conductor and/or the vocal coach.
- Maintain an active profile in opera directing that engages the discipline at national level.
- A commitment to promoting our opera program and experience with community engagement is desired.

Required Qualifications:
- Master's degree or equivalent professional experience with a national profile as a Opera/Stage Director.
- Thorough knowledge of operatic literature.
- Experience directing opera performances at the university or professional level.
- Record of excellence teaching students at the highest professional level.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Doctorate or ABD status at time of appointment.
- Experience assisting opera performances at the university or professional level.
- Evidence of leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills.

What to submit:
- a brief cover letter describing the candidate's qualification for the position
- a detailed curriculum vitae
- the names and contact information for three references

Please do not send recordings or any other additional materials at this time. References and additional materials may be sought for applicants as they advance through the search process.

Application review will begin on November 26, 2025, but the position will remain open until filled.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

FTE: Varies

Contact Information: VCUarts Human Resources, artshr@vcu.edu