Assistant Professor of Music (Voice)

The St. Olaf College Department of Music invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track voice faculty position at the Assistant Professor level to begin in August 2024. The successful candidate will possess a strong background in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy, as well as a demonstrated commitment to supporting a thriving and diverse undergraduate music program.

The primary responsibilities will be teaching voice lessons and teaching courses in the successful candidate’s area of expertise to music majors in both professional and liberal arts degree programs. Additional responsibilities may include other teaching in the candidate’s area of specialty including vocal diction, vocal literature, and vocal pedagogy courses, collaborating with music faculty in performances, serving on departmental and college-wide committees, academic advising, and actively participating in student recruitment efforts. Opportunities may arise to teach general education courses outside the Music Department, such as first-year seminars and first-year writing courses, or in collaboration with faculty in other departments.

St. Olaf College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges nationally accredited in art, dance, music and theater. The four departments work together to provide a comprehensive, rigorous Fine Arts curriculum. The successful candidate would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues in other Fine Arts departments in developing innovative cross-disciplinary initiatives and supporting the college’s nascent musical theater concentration, would be able to contribute to our ongoing commitment to making the college a welcoming and inclusive community, and will be a pedagogue and artist of outstanding ability who will contribute proactively to the artistic and intellectual life of St. Olaf College. In particular, successful candidates will demonstrate, both in performance and in teaching, how excellent music-making and a liberal arts education are mutually beneficial in the lives of undergraduate students. Professional performing experience is expected, and the successful candidate will be expected once hired to maintain a professional profile through performing, adjudicating, and other related activities. Professional experience in commercial music, jazz, and/or vocal improvisation is welcome. In addition to a proven record of success in teaching applied voice, the candidate will show a commitment to the missions of the department and the college. Keyboard skills sufficient to support instruction are desirable.

Qualifications:

Doctorate preferred or commensurate professional experience.

About the Department:

The St. Olaf Music Department is internationally recognized for its excellent ensembles, including seven choirs, two orchestras, two concert bands, two big bands, collegium musicum, and a Javanese gamelan. Several of these ensembles travel the world, have earned the American Prize, and have been featured in Downbeat Magazine. Many of our students go on to the top graduate programs in the country for music performance, musicology, conducting, and composition. St. Olaf students aren’t just amazing musicians: they’re also smart, motivated, and humble. They attend St. Olaf because they want to engage in musicianship at the highest levels while simultaneously challenging themselves to learn broadly and deeply in a liberal arts context. Many music majors pursue BA degrees in music, often adding double majors; others pursue BM degrees in music performance, music education, composition, church music, and elective studies. At the same time, our ensembles feature many talented musicians who choose to major in something other than music. The excellence and ambition of our students is nurtured by the culture of professionalism and care instilled by our faculty, who maintain active careers as performers and scholars, and who are deeply devoted to teaching. Consistent with a longstanding tradition of service, our department is committed to recruiting a diverse student body and engaging with diverse communities at the local and national levels. For more information about the department, visit wp.stolaf.edu/music/.

Diversity:

At St. Olaf College, we are committed to equity and inclusion. We strive to be a campus of welcome where students, faculty, and staff thrive by bringing their full humanity—gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, spirituality, and age—to the Hill each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity, transparency, trust, cooperation, consensus, respect, and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening, cultivating a growth mindset, respecting those with different views, being informed by data, and understanding that the work is ongoing, collaborative, organic, and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

How to Apply:

A complete application includes:
1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Diversity statement (200-500 word limit): Describe how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at our college through your teaching, research, and/or service. Include examples of your contributions when possible.
4. Graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
5. The URL(s) for approximately 20-30 mins of representative recordings (audio and video) of recent performances of art song, opera, oratorio, musical theater, and additional genres of candidate’s choice.
6. The URL for one video of the candidate teaching in a lesson setting (30 minutes and both the student and instructor must be heard).
7. Statement of Teaching Philosophy (1 page) outlining your pedagogical approach to teaching voice at the undergraduate level.
8. The contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship (St. Olaf solicits letters directly after an initial round of screening.)

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by that date will receive fullest consideration. Finalist interviews are expected in February 2024. Questions about the position, department, or College may be directed to Tracey Engleman, Search Committee Chair, at tt2024voice@stolaf.edu.

Who We Are:

Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff employees. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, restored, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.

The college offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 9% company retirement match, company monthly contributions to a retirement healthcare account, company contributions to eligible employee’s health savings account, significant tuition discount (up to 80% off) at ACM and ELCA colleges and universities for employee’s children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of benefit offerings, see the summary of the benefits program here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/

To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.

A link to our DEI page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/

A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483

An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/

An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/

The college strongly recommends that incoming students and new employees complete the primary COVID vaccine series before beginning their studies or work on campus, and that all members of our campus community remain up to date with COVID vaccines, per CDC guidance.

St. Olaf College is an equal employment opportunity employer. The College is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community. With regard to its hiring and employment practices, the College prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based upon an individual’s legally protected status including race, color, creed, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance.

For Staff Application Assistance:
employment@stolaf.edu
507-786-3068

For Faculty Application Assistance:
facultysearch@stolaf.edu
507-786-3356

Title IX Contact Information:
Pamela McDowell, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator
1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Tomson Hall 180
Northfield, MN 55057
507-786-3465
mcdowell@stolaf.edu