Auxiliary Adjunct, Lighting Designer and Technical Director

Shenandoah Conservatory was founded in 1875 and has an extraordinary legacy of shaping music and the performing arts in Virginia and beyond. Located at the head of the historic Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, 70 miles west of Washington, DC, the Conservatory is now home to over 700 award-winning students from across the nation and globe enrolled in baccalaureate, masters and doctoral curricula in the areas of music, theater, and dance, and includes a distinguished faculty of over 125, half of whom are full-time.

Beyond providing professional preparation to around 60 dance majors annually, the Dance Division provides 90 musical theatre students with rigorous professional training that is equally grounded in musical theatre, jazz, ballet, tap and modern dance training. Core dance training is complemented by an extensive composition sequence, three mainstage concerts per year in the 600-seat Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre, and numerous opportunities for creative & performance work. Extensive outreach opportunities led by dance faculty include international performance-and- study tours, such as summer trips to Asia and Europe, where participants have studied with many international guest artists and performed both faculty and student works at various stages in multiple countries. At home, the Dance Ensemble has been featured in concerts at the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Hall, and other professional venues in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University seeks an exceptional dance and theatre practitioner to teach and perform duties as Lighting Designer and Technical Director. This entry-level, auxiliary adjunct appointment begins August 2024. The chosen candidate will be skilled as a lighting designer, technical director and production manager, passionate about preparing students for work in the 21st century, and will further strengthen Shenandoah Conservatory's reputation as an inclusive and premier place of study where artists from diverse backgrounds actively engage around innovative and collaborative work.

Specifically, the desired candidate will:

• Serve as the Lighting Designer, Technical Director and Production Manager for all dance productions. Including three dance productions in the Conservatory’s main stage proscenium theatre seating 650, with full lighting technologies, as well as several productions offered in the Dance Division’s black box theatre
• Serve as Master Electrician for two faculty dance concerts per year
• Serve as Lighting Design and mentor for BFA Senior Ensemble, BFA Solo Concerts, and BA Capstone presentations
• Teach dance production class(es) each semester to support the undergraduate dance curricula
• Supervise student production assignments, including mentoring assistant lighting designers and stage manager for the two faculty dance concerts and other events
• Participate in division meetings and lead production meetings in the capacity as the Production Manager
• Oversee dance division studio and theatrical spaces
• Act as dance work study supervisor
• Recruit and train backstage crew when needed for the concerts
• Organize tech schedule for all concerts
• Liaison to the Theatre Dept to ensure proper communication and process when using main stage
• Engage in the Conservatory’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.; and
• Additional opportunities at the Conservatory level such as Holiday Gala, Opera Up Close, Performing Arts Live Events (PAL), and mainstage Opera may be available.

Required skills:

• Possession of M.F.A. in Lighting Design or a combination of training and equivalent professional experience; Experience and expertise in technical direction
• A commitment to artistic excellence, passion for mentorship, and orientation towards collaborative work; and
• Teaching experience within a conservatory or intensive collegiate environment is preferred.

How to Apply: 

The complete application will include a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, and contact information for three professional references. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.

**Note: A pre-employment background check will be required and a satisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire. 

Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical, or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, or on any other basis protected under applicable law.