Interim Director, Visiting Assistant/Associate Professor of Contemporary Music

Shenandoah Conservatory is seeking nominations and applications for an exceptional and entrepreneurial contemporary musician to join its faculty as Interim Director of the Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development (CMED) program. This one-year visiting, full-time benefited position, with rank at the assistant or associate level dependent upon qualifications, begins August 2025.

The successful candidate will be skilled across music styles, broadly aware of music industry trends, skilled at navigating the challenging 21st century music marketplace, excited to work within a community dedicated to belonging and Inclusive Excellence, and passionate about mentoring students. The successful candidate will direct and teach within the CMED program (now in its fourth year). The CMED coursework crosses subject areas, with classes not only in music foundations, performance, and songwriting, but also business, marketing, entrepreneurship and technology.

Responsibilities include:

1. Teach commercial music, songwriting, music entrepreneurship, jazz or other courses within conservatory degrees where appropriate;
2. Advise CMED students and guide culminating projects; and
3. Successfully advance the profile of the CMED degree program, helping to recruit highly talented students into the entering class, including through use of social media and/or other 21st century tools.

Shenandoah Conservatory is home to exceptional artists and scholars who are strongly oriented towards collaboration, mentorship, and innovative approaches to the career preparation of students. The Conservatory’s ShenCoLAB is one example of the Conservatory’s nation-leading embrace of innovation and collaboration; a (first-in-the-country) week-long stoppage of all classes and rehearsals across all programs with the school turned over to students for student-led (and faculty mentored) collaborative projects. Shenandoah Conservatory 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, Virginia, 70 miles west of Washington, D.C., the Conservatory is now home to over 700 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 130, half of whom are full-time. 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.

Preferred qualifications include the following:

1. An excellent musician with extensive performing experience across music styles or an industry professional with extensive experience in the business side of commercial music;
2. An excellent teacher and mentor with experience teaching within a conservatory or university setting;
3. Ability and interest to effectively attract and recruit students;
4. Demonstrated entrepreneurship, including the ability to employ media (whether social media, YouTube, and/or streaming services) to effectively build listeners/followers;
5. Demonstrated orientation towards collaborative work;
6. Possession of a terminal degree or equivalent professional experience;
7. Eligibility to work in the United States; and
8. An ability to contribute to the Conservatory’s commitment to belonging and Inclusive Excellence.

How to Apply: 

The complete application will include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be reviewed immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through its faculty, administration, and staff diversity. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing how they can 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 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.