Artistic Director for Choral Arts Ensemble + Honors Choirs of SE Minnesota

Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester (CAE) and Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota (HCSM) are seeking an Artistic Director upon the retirement in May 2024 of the founding director of both organizations. Both groups have been recognized with performances at ACDA and Chorus America conferences. With closely aligned missions, similar responsibilities, and a history of cooperation, we seek a person qualified to assume both positions. Working half-time for each organization results in a full-time commitment to choral music. 

Organizational Background - CAE

The mission of Choral Arts Ensemble is to inspire, educate, and enrich the community at large through outstanding choral performance.

Choral Arts Ensemble has been inspiring audiences throughout southeast Minnesota with performances of outstanding choral music since its founding in 1985. The auditioned singers of CAE are active community members from a wide variety of professions, including teachers, doctors, medical students, businesspeople, computer engineers, and church leaders, all drawn together to create excellent music and contribute to the artistically thriving life in and around Rochester.

Our repertoire includes a cappella works from the Renaissance to the present day and a variety of choral/orchestral works ranging from J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor to Beethoven’s Mass in C to Honegger’s King David. We are proud to have commissioned and premiered over 75 new choral works.

We have collaborated locally with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Honors Choirs of SE Minnesota, Rochester Art Center, Janet Lang Dancers, and regionally with the Bach Society of Minnesota, Great River Shakespeare Festival, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Cantus, and Dale Warland Singers. CAE’s Christmas at Assisi concert has been broadcast on KSMQ public television for several years, and the choir has selections played regularly on Classical Minnesota Public Radio.

 Organizational Background - Honors Choirs

The mission of Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota is to promote the highest standard of excellence in the preparation and performance of choral music, seeking to provide artistic challenge and growth opportunities for youth throughout the region and enjoyment for the community at large.

Founded as an auditioned high school choir in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1992, today Honors Choirs of SE MN is the largest youth music organization in the area, serving young people from Rochester and surrounding communities. We believe participating in choir develops neurons in young brains, gives youth the chance to learn cooperation without competition, and affirms to young people the power of beauty through joyful singing.

From inception, the organization’s reputation for excellence emerged quickly, growing from a single high school-age choir to now including five (5) choirs for students in grades 1-12. Now in its 31st season, over 2,000 singers have participated directly as members of an Honors Choirs ensemble, and thousands of young people have experienced choral music through area school outreach performances.

We have been named Arts Organization of the Year by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, the Mayor’s Outstanding Youth in the Arts award, and Excellence in Arts Education.

The choirs have performed on tour in places near and far, including New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Ames (IA), and international venues in the Czech Republic, Austria, Netherlands, France, Italy, British Columbia, Montreal, Newfoundland, Finland, Estonia, and Sweden.

Position Summary

The Artistic Director is the visionary leader and principal conductor for both organizations. Working with the Board(s) of Directors and co-leading the organizations with the Executive Director(s), the Artistic Director (AD) creates and executes programming that advances the respective missions.

Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, the AD leads program development, singer recruiting, commissioning, and building partnerships among the arts organizations. The AD is the primary external ambassador for both organizations, both on and off the podium, always sharing a passion and enthusiasm for this art form.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities

• Serving as principal conductor for CAE and HCSM Concert Choir (Grades 10-12) at rehearsals performances, public appearances, tours, recording sessions, and fundraising events.
• Providing musical supervision and support for directors leading the younger choirs (Grades 1-9)
• Creating an artistic vision that inspires singers and audiences, advancing the organization’s missions and strategic goals, always seeking to expand the audience base, and finding avenues for outreach to expose the public to the choral arts.
• Working with the respective executive directors and boards in developing budgets, grant proposals, fundraising activities, strategic plans, and outreach initiatives
• Developing concert programs that are innovative and rewarding for both singers and audiences.
• Creating a rehearsal atmosphere that welcomes and respects singers, is artistically challenging and nurtures vocal health and skill development.
• Recruiting and auditioning singers for choirs and working to achieve the strongest possible choral product.
• Planning future seasons (programs, commissions, etc.) while preparing and presenting the current season’s works
• Attending CAE and HCSM board meetings, informing them of choir activities and plans.
• Partnering with the CAE and HCSM executive directors and respective boards to ensure fiscal health.
• Personally meeting with sponsors, donors, and grant sources whenever beneficial.
• Representing CAE and HCSM in regional and national forums to retain relevancy regarding choral programming, audience development, and related matters.
• Working with collaborating arts ensembles, commissioning new works, and maintaining ongoing familiarity with the finest new choral repertoire and composers
• Performing other duties as required or as may be assigned by the CAE and HCSM Boards of Directors.

Qualifications and Experiences

 The successful candidate will have these qualifications:

• Proven experience in artistic leadership and choral performance
• A broad knowledge of choral literature and a passion for creative programming
• Demonstrated choral conducting expertise, effective rehearsal technique, and enthusiasm for working with both adult and student singers
• Excellent communication and cooperation skills to work effectively with Executive Directors, Boards of Directors, staff, parents, volunteers, and singers
• Capacity to positively represent both organizations to our audiences, sponsors and donor community, area music teachers, and the general public
• Master’s degree in music, DMA preferred
• Intent to establish full-time residence in the Rochester area

Compensation and Benefits

Total compensation for the combined CAE and HCSM positions, including a health care allowance, will range to $100,000 based on qualifications and experience. Additional benefits include a retirement plan with a 3% employer match, vacation, sick, and personal leave benefits. A relocation package may also be considered.

Application Procedure

• Please submit the following in PDF format:
• Cover letter and CV or resume that includes background, accomplishments, and approach to choral programming
• A list of 3-4 professional references
• Video examples of conducting from current positions (via links)

Application documents should be uploaded via the link provided or sent to personnel@choralartsensemble.org . Questions may be directed to this same address.

Additional information is available on request.