Artistic Director

About: 

Enriching Lives through Music (ELM) is a nonprofit organization that provides immersive, tuition-free music education and academic support to primarily first-generation Latino youth from the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael, CA. Inspired by the El Sistema model, ELM believes in the power of music to create social change and transform lives. Through ensemble-based learning, performance opportunities and mentorship, ELM helps students develop the confidence, discipline, and creativity needed to thrive in school and life. We are family focused and embedded in the community that we serve.

It is an exciting time at ELM as we celebrate a decade of service to the San Rafael community. We have grown from 15 to 170 students, with plans to reach 250 students within five years. We strive to engage the entire community through partnerships, community events, and performances in the Bay Area and beyond. ELM has recently acquired a building which will undergo renovations to become our home for music, culture and community. 

We are seeking an experienced, energetic, thoughtful professional to lead our dedicated staff and spearhead our artistic growth during this time of expansion.

Position Summary:
The Artistic Director will supervise a team of 12-14 teaching artists to pursue ELM’s artistic, community, and youth development vision. 

The Artistic Director at ELM will possess a strong background in music performance, teaching, and/or conducting. This individual will be responsible for promoting ELM’s artistic vision by ensuring high-quality instrumental and ensemble music education and performance opportunities for our community. The Artistic Director will provide leadership across all of ELM’s programs and supervise our teaching artists, guiding them in delivering a thoughtful, progressive pathway of musical and instrumental development for students from the time they join our program through graduation.  The successful candidate will have a background in music education, arts administration, and performance.

Along with the Executive Director and ELM’s teaching artist leadership team, the Artistic Director will oversee program development and community partnerships, as well as regional, national, and international opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

Faculty, ensemble, and student development  

• Lead, supervise, and mentor the team of teaching artists to articulate, elevate, and unify ELMs pedagogic and ensemble approaches and goals 

• Lead the elmCATS program, our advanced pathway for students 

• Lead initiatives to develop comprehensive program-wide music and performance goals, policies, and criteria for student growth 

• Work with conductor and teaching artists to assure that repertoire selection is level appropriate and consistent with instrument specific learning and technique goals

• Identify and facilitate professional development opportunities for teaching artists 

• Identify and facilitate guest artists and master-class program 

• Identify and pursue musical opportunities for students beyond ELM (summer camps, festivals, tours, collaborative opportunities, etc.) 
• Oversee the planning and production of performances and community events.

Strategic vision and program growth 

• Design and communicate a musical pathway that reflects our students’ cultures and community
• Actively pursue a culture of music excellence
• Create and communicate excellent, age-appropriate pedagogical musicianship
  curriculum
• Seek opportunities for ELM students for special projects and experiences
  

Community outreach and development 

• Foster positive relationships and partnerships with other organizations and within the El Sistema network to expand opportunities for our program and students. 

• Be an ambassador in the community with donors and partners 

• Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for the organization within the music and arts community 

• Build partnerships with schools, arts organizations, and community groups to expand the program’s reach and impact 

• Organize outreach initiatives to increase community involvement and visibility 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in the arts, performing arts, education and/or a related field or equivalent experience 

• Over 2 years of experience collaborating with and supervising a team of teaching artists 

• • Strong leadership and team management experience

• Experience conducting and teaching youth instrumental ensembles preferred

• • Commitment to a youth development approach

• Well versed in both traditional classical and Latin music repertoire

• Skills and desire to shape ELM’s vision to inspire personal and community transformation through world class music instruction and opportunities 

• Passion for working in diverse, multilingual communities 

• Desire to build strong relationships with our young musicians, their families, and community 

• Bilingual and bi-cultural Spanish/English strongly preferred 

Work Environment:
This position is based in an office environment with some evening and/or weekend work required. This position will be in the office for the first three months, at which time a hybrid work environment can be discussed and considered.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position, with an annual salary range of $110,000-$120,000 commensurate with experience. ELM offers a competitive benefits package which includes health care expense reimbursement, paid time off, professional development reimbursement, and the option to enroll in a retirement savings program.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and resume of no more than two pages to [email protected] with the subject line “Artistic Director Application”. This job will be open on a rolling basis until filled. No phone calls or walk-ins please.

ELM is committed to employment policies and procedures ensuring all qualified persons are accorded the equal opportunity for employment, promotion, and training.