Assistant Director of Bands/Assistant Professor of the Practice


Position Overview

The University of Kansas, School of Music seeks to fill a full-time, academic year (nine month), non-tenured band conductor to teach in an Assistant Professor of the Practice capacity to begin on August 18, 2025. This position is for The successful candidate will be surrounded by colleagues who share your passion for artistic expression, educating students, creating professional opportunities in the discipline, and are eager to create new ways for engagement in learning.

The University of Kansas School of Music is a comprehensive university music school offering professional training in a wide array of specializations through baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degree programs. A charter member of the National Association of Schools of Music (1928), KU is the only institution authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to grant doctoral degrees in music.

The University of Kansas is a Carnegie Research-Extensive Institution with a student body of over 30,000 students representing every state and more than 113 foreign countries. The University is located in Lawrence, a city with a population exceeding 95,000. The community is known for its support of the arts and education and regularly appears in various “best town” listings.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Job Description

Teaching (80%)
  • Serve as assistant director of the 350+ member Marching Jayhawks.
  • Conduct the Women’s Basketball Band, with assistance from a graduate teaching assistant.
  • Teach undergraduate courses in marching band techniques, conducting, and band clinic (part of the instrumental music education sequence).
  • Opportunities to guest conduct the concert bands.

Scholarly/Creative Activity (10%)
  • Establish a scholarly/research/creative agenda pursuant of artistic growth and an expanding reputation of excellence.
  • Participate actively in the cultural and intellectual life of the School and the University.

Service (10%)
  • Work cooperatively in support of the School of Music and the University, including service on graduate and faculty committees.
  • Collaborate with other members of the faculty.
  • Recruit music majors and students pursuing other major area of study.

Required Qualifications

  1. Master’s degree in wind conducting, music education, or closely related field.
  2. Three years of public/private school teaching experience in band.
  3. Prior experience with a collegiate/university marching band.
  4. Experience conducting a collegiate/university pep band.
  5. Experience as a marching band drill writer.

Additional Candidate Instructions

A complete application will consist of:
  1. A cover letter describing your teaching experience, interest in the position, and how you meet the required qualifications
  2. A Curriculum Vita
  3. Video links to representative examples of your drill-writing,
  4. Video links to examples of your conducting concert bands, both in performance and rehearsal.
  5. Contact information for three professional references.

On-line application required on KU's Employment Site

Initial review of applications will begin October 28, 2024 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

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Contact Information to Applicants

Dr. Matthew O. Smith
maosmith@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

Commensurate with experience

Application Review Begins

Monday October 28, 2024

Anticipated Start Date

Friday August 1, 2025

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Posting Information

  • Posting ID:  29082BR
  • Department:  Music
  • Primary Campus:  University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
  • Reg/Temp:  Regular
  • Employee Class:  F-Faculty
  • Review Begins:  28-Oct-2024

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