Chorus Master/Music Administrator
DESCRIPTION
How to Apply: Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to employment@detroitopera.org
Position Summary:
The Chorus Master / Music Administrator is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of musical excellence and artistic quality for the Detroit Opera professional chorus. Reporting to the Chief Programming Officer and working under the guidance of the Artistic and Music Directors, this position combines artistic leadership with administrative oversight. The incumbent will plan and direct chorus rehearsals, oversee chorus recruitment, manage budgets and scheduling in collaboration with production staff, and supervise orchestra support functions to support Detroit Opera’s musical and organizational goals.
Responsibilities:
Chorus Master:
Audition & Selection -
Plan and conduct chorus auditions; select and contract chorus members in line with artistic and budgetary goals.
Maintain an updated roster of available chorus members for immediate and future productions.
Rehearsals & Musical Preparation -
Design and lead efficient music rehearsals, ensuring mastery of pronunciation, diction, style, and interpretation.
Oversee or create practice materials (e.g., audio tracks, language guides, translations) to support chorus learning.
Conduct backstage/offstage chorus segments and serve as rehearsal conductor in the absence of the principal conductor.
Collaborate with stage management and production teams to integrate choral staging and maintain high musical and dramatic standards.
Union & Contract Compliance -
Adhere to union regulations (e.g., AGMA or equivalent) regarding work hours, breaks, and compensation.
Participate in chorus-related budgeting to ensure responsible management of resources.
Orchestra Administration:
Personnel Management -
Supervise the Orchestra Personnel Manager to ensure effective communication, scheduling, and union compliance.
Partner with the Music Director on repertoire adjustments, orchestration needs, and special requests.
Music Library Oversight -
Direct the Orchestra Librarian’s distribution and preparation of scores, parts, and other necessary musical materials.
Music Administration & Production Coordination:
Production Planning & Collaboration -
Collaborate with the Artistic Administrator, Stage Management, and Production teams to coordinate rehearsal schedules and production timelines.
Liaise with guest and staff conductors on cuts, editions, and other musical decisions.
Attend planning meetings to ensure choral and orchestral needs align with the overall production vision.
Administrative & Technological Oversight -
Maintain efficient internal processes for scheduling, distributing scores, and producing practice materials.
Provide or coordinate digital resources for remote or offsite rehearsals if necessary.
Assist with educational or community outreach initiatives related to choral music as requested.
Required Qualifications:
Choral Conducting Experience: Proven track record in leading professional-level choral ensembles, with knowledge of operatic repertoire and vocal technique.
Language & Diction Proficiency: Ability to coach at least one major operatic language (Italian, French, or German) with strong diction and stylistic understanding.
Organizational & Time Management: Competence in coordinating multiple schedules, rehearsals, and production deadlines simultaneously.
Collaboration & Leadership: Effective communication and team-building skills, fostering a productive work environment for chorus members, staff, and production teams.
Budget & Union Experience: Familiarity with budgeting processes and union regulations/contract obligations (e.g., AGMA or similar).
Desired Qualifications:
Education: Advanced degree in Music (Conducting, Vocal Performance, or similar).
Keyboard Skills: Piano proficiency for rehearsal and coaching.
Supervisory Background: Demonstrated success in leading teams and resolving conflicts.
Community Engagement: Interest in or experience with educational outreach and broader community initiatives.
Physical Demands:
Extended Standing/Conducting: Ability to remain on the podium for extended periods.
Backstage/Rehearsal Navigation: Possible low-light conditions, crowded areas, and uneven surfaces.
Stair & Ladder Use: Occasional need to ascend/descend stairs or ladders.
Light Lifting: May lift materials weighing up to 10 pounds (e.g., scores, instruments).
Dust/Mold Exposure: Potential exposure to archival materials (may require respirator use).
Application Deadline:
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
Additional Information:
Detroit Opera is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the DO mission.
About Detroit Opera:
Founded in 1971, Detroit Opera (DO) is the premier multi-disciplined producer and presenter for opera, musical theatre, and dance in the Great Lakes Region. Based in the city of Detroit, the organization engages artists of national and international stature for stellar main stage and outreach performances and provides compelling cultural enrichment programs for the diverse audiences and communities that it serves, making it one of Detroit’s pillars of arts and culture. DO is among a select few opera companies nationwide to own its theatre, the historic 2,700-seat Detroit Opera House, which is located in the heart of downtown Detroit.
DO is seen as the most innovative opera company in America. DO garnered great critical and popular acclaim during the pandemic for its socially distanced, drive-thru production of Twilight : Gods, an adaptation of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung. Brainchild of new Artistic Director Yuval Sharon, Twilight : Gods was performed across multiple levels in DO’s own parking structure and provided performance opportunities for local cast and orchestra members, in addition to international opera stars. Lauded for past projects such as his reverse chronological staging of Puccini’s La Bohème, Sharon in July premiered a high-tech reimagining of a Wagner opera.
For more information, please visit https://detroitopera.org
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $80,000 - $85,000 Annual
Medical
Vision
Dental
Life
FSA
Disability
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to employment@detroitopera.org
Application Email/Link: employment@detroitopera.org