Visiting Assistant Professor - Musical Theatre

Department: School of Stage & Screen

About WCU: Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:

• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary: This position is located on WCU's main campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

The School of Stage & Screen at Western Carolina University invites applications for one semester, fixed-term Visiting Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre. We seek an energetic, collaborative, and student-centered artist-educator with expertise in music direction and musicianship who is excited to contribute to the continued growth and national visibility of our BFA Musical Theatre program. The anticipated start date is January 2027.

The successful candidate will join an engaged community of working artists and educators committed to preparing versatile, thoughtful, and resilient musical theatre professionals. We welcome candidates who bring an active professional practice, a passion for undergraduate teaching, and an interest in helping shape the evolving future of musical theatre training.

The expected workload for this position is 60% teaching and production activity, 20% service, and 20% creative scholarship, research, or publication. The standard teaching assignment is nine credit hours per semester, with course releases provided for assigned production responsibilities such as music direction. Specific teaching and production assignments will be determined by program needs and the successful candidate's areas of expertise. Specific teaching and production assignments will be determined according to program needs and the successful candidate's areas of expertise.

The BFA Musical Theatre program is guided by four core values: Authentic Curiosity, Daring Experimentation, Joyful Contribution, and Radical Critical Thought. Through our shared commitment to these values, we cultivate a compassionate and inclusive artistic community that honors its members, encourages meaningful risk-taking, and holds space for growth, inspiration, belonging, and excellence.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate musical theatre courses, which may include musicianship, song study, acting the song, audition preparation, vocal coaching, and musical theatre ensembles.
• Ability to sight read and accompany musical theatre performers in class, auditions and performance on piano.
• Broad knowledge of musical theatre repertoire, styles, and performance practices, including contemporary commercial music.
• Demonstrated skill in music directing theatrical productions and preparing students for professional rehearsal and performance expectations.
• Ability to develop students' musicianship, sight-reading, score preparation, musical interpretation, and stylistic versatility across a range of prior training and experience.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with directors, choreographers, designers, accompanists, production personnel, faculty, guest artists, and student artists.
• Ability to advise and mentor students in their academic, artistic, and professional development.
• Ability to contribute collaboratively to curriculum development, assessment, recruitment, retention, shared governance, and the broader work of the School of Stage & Screen.
• Commitment to supporting students from a broad range of backgrounds, identities, experiences, and levels of prior access to musical training.

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must possess one of the following:

• A terminal degree in Musical Theatre, Music Direction, Music, Theatre, Vocal Performance, Music Education, or a closely related field, completed by the anticipated start date;

OR

• A Master's degree in an appropriate field combined with significant professional experience in musical theatre and/or substantial teaching experience at the university or professional level;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience as a music director, conductor, vocal coach, vocal director, arranger, and/or composer.
• Experience teaching or coaching healthy, sustainable vocal production across varied musical theatre styles.
• A record of excellence in undergraduate teaching and the successful engagement of students in creative or professional activities.
• Experience with curriculum development, program assessment, or academic program growth.

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants: Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following:

• A letter of application addressing their qualifications for the position, teaching philosophy, professional or creative practice, and interest in joining WCU's Musical Theatre community
• A curriculum vitae or professional résumé
• Unofficial transcripts from the institution awarding the applicant's highest degree *
• A statement describing the applicant's approach to supporting students with varied backgrounds, identities, experiences, and levels of prior musical training
• A list of three professional references, including full contact information
• Links to conducting, accompaniment, coaching, teaching, or production-work samples

For questions or additional information please contact Tory Depew at vdepew@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.

AA/EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/35477