WSU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Department: School of Music

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Work Schedule: Varied depending upon class, rehearsal, and performance schedule; work is performed on-site and in person.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

The Director of Choral Activities provides leadership for the choral program and opportunities to collaborate across the School of Music, College of Fine Arts, and with schools, churches, and community choral organizations throughout Wichita and the region. This position supports our commitment to excellence in music education, performance, and student development. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate education through conducting and teaching, scholarship and/or creative activity, and service that advances the School of Music's choral program. The School of Music and the College of Fine Arts invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor, Director of Choral Activities position beginning August 2027.

The faculty member will be expected to conduct multiple choirs including the Concert Chorale, the premiere choral ensemble; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting, methods, and literature; recruit, audition, and retain choral students; maintain an active scholarly, creative, or professional agenda; advise and mentor graduate choral conducting students; and contribute to program development and community and professional engagement.

The School of Music supports the mission of being an applied learning community of musicians who fulfill professional goals and become lifelong advocates for the arts. The choral program engages singers and choral conductors for careers in performance, education, and additional pathways. The program offers a range of auditioned and non-auditioned ensembles and emphasizes choral literature, vocal pedagogy, and engagement with regional and national choral organizations, festivals, and honor choirs.

The School of Music at Wichita State University has a distinguished history that began with the founding of the institution on September 11, 1895, originally known as Fairmount College. From its early days, music was a foundational component of the college's offerings, alongside drawing, as part of the Department of Fine Arts. Music quickly became a hallmark of the college's reputation, contributing to its prominence in the arts. The School of Music remains a vibrant part of Wichita State University, dedicated to nurturing the talents of its students and contributing to the rich cultural fabric of the university and the broader community.

Job Summary

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using various instructional deliveries (e.g., traditional (face-to-face), hybrid, and fully online). To foster applied learning into the course design and engage with industry and local business community applied projects. To advance knowledge through scholarly activities (e.g., active involvement in committees, student mentorship, recruitment and retention initiative, outreach activities, etc.)

Essential Functions

Meet expectations for research, teaching, and service as set forth by the department and college.

Job Duties

Conducting and Teaching:
Conduct the University's principal auditioned choral ensemble(s) and oversee the overall choral program.
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting, choral methods, and choral literature.
Develop and revise curriculum that reflects contemporary practices in choral music education and performance.
Recruit, audition, and retain choral students across the School of Music.
Mentor and advise graduate conducting students.
Organize and lead choral festivals, honor choirs, and outreach clinics with regional schools and community organizations.

Scholarship/Creative Activity:
Maintain an active program of scholarship, creative activity, or professional engagement in choral music, such as guest conducting, adjudication, commissioning, publication, performance or a related area.
Present or perform at regional and national conferences, including those of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and related professional organizations.

Service:
Participate in service activities within the choral program, School of Music, College of Fine Arts, and Wichita State University.
Contribute to curriculum development, program assessment, accreditation activities, student recruitment, and strategic planning.
Engage with professional organizations, schools, churches, and community choral organizations in ways that enhance program visibility and student opportunities.
Support university initiatives related to applied learning, inclusivity, and community engagement.

Other Duties:
Administration of program: devise recruitment strategies to grow enrollment in the choral program.
Perform other responsibilities consistent with faculty expertise and departmental needs. All faculty members are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in direct field
• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) or Ph.D. in Choral Conducting or a closely related field, required.
  
  Required Experience:
• Demonstrated excellence in choral conducting at the collegiate level or through equivalent professional experience.
• Effective teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. Evidence may include prior teaching experience, student evaluations, teaching awards, or a teaching philosophy that reflects best practices in instruction.
• Demonstrated professional, scholarly, or creative achievement relevant to choral conducting or choral music education.
• Evidence of professional engagement in the choral music field, such as adjudication, guest conducting, or membership in professional organizations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, industry professionals, and community partners.
• Commitment to student success and inclusive excellence in choral music education.
• Ability to recruit and retain choral students and to contribute to the School of Music's broader curricular and programmatic needs.
• Ability to provide instruction curriculum to a variety of learners.
• Commitment to collaborative processes and environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience conducting collegiate choral ensembles as professor of record.
• Experience teaching choral conducting, methods, and literature at the collegiate level.
• Record of scholarship, creative activity, or professional accomplishment in choral music.
• Experience with choral repertoire across diverse styles, traditions, and languages.
• Experience mentoring graduate conducting students and supervising internships or capstone projects.
• Experience organizing choral tours, festivals, and honor choirs.
• Experience with online and hybrid instruction.
• Demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Additional Information:

WSU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

REQUIRED APPLICANT MATERIALS:
1.Cover Letter/Letter of application addressing qualifications and interest in the position.
2. Teaching Statement describing conducting philosophy, teaching experience, and courses taught.
3. Media URL: Recordings of choral conducting (video links – up to 15 min. of rehearsal and 15 min. of performance).


Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position – Frequent 60-90%; Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators – Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement: