Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development (Songwriting and Conducting)

Shenandoah Conservatory is accepting applications for an Adjunct: Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development (Songwriting and Conducting). This position is located on our main campus in Winchester, Virginia. 

This position will teach songwriting classes as assigned, which includes mostly majors in the Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development (CMED) undergraduate program but also may include music minors and students pursuing the Songwriting Certificate. The instructor must be capable of successfully working with a wide range of students and their musical goals.

Should skills allow; the chosen candidate may also:

• Lead the second section of the CONTEMPO Ensemble, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-quality rehearsal environment.
• Organize and conduct rehearsals twice weekly (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7:00 PM–9:00 PM) at Shenandoah Conservatory.
• Guide students in interpreting and performing a diverse repertoire, emphasizing musical expression, leadership, and audience engagement.
• Mentor students in ensemble leadership, performance preparation, and artistic development.
• Collaborate with the Director of Contemporary Music and other faculty to coordinate schedules, events, and outreach programs.
• Assess student progress through performance and other relevant evaluations.
  

Position Expectations:

• Develop and distribute, the first week of class, a written syllabus for songwriting and each course taught, to communicate to student’s course objectives, assessment, grading criteria, and classroom policies.
• Be prompt in submission of grades, reports, and other required information.
• Engage in professional development to maintain and continually advance teaching skills.

About Shenandoah Conservatory:

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 600 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 being a comprehensive performing arts school, Shenandoah Conservatory is home to exceptional artists and scholars who are oriented towards collaboration and innovative approaches to the career preparation of students. In the area of music, Shenandoah Conservatory is fortunate to attract performance-oriented students not only through its music performance degrees, but also through offered degrees in Music Education, Music Therapy, and Music Production and Recording Technology. The Conservatory is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s leading centers of new music performance, with premier master artists (ranging from composers to ensembles) distributed throughout each performance season. www.su.edu/conservatory

Shenandoah Conservatory is seeking a dynamic and experienced Adjunct Faculty member to teach songwriting. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in commercial/popular music, with expertise in songwriting, composition, and knowledge of appropriate notation software, the ability to engage and inspire a diverse group of students and music production. The successful candidate will possess the following: a demonstrated record of excellence in collegiate level teaching, with expertise in undergraduate education; a marked interest in collaborating with a dynamic and diverse faculty and contributing to a performance-based and scholarly conservatory environment.

How to Apply: 

The complete application will include a letter of intent, a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy (in which candidates also identify how they might advance the Conservatory’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion), and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.

**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 individuals and communities' unique and diverse perspectives locally and globally. It 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.