Seattle Ladies Choir is Hiring a Music Director (Seattle)

About us: We sing songs other choirs don’t. Seattle Ladies Choir is a non-audition choir open to all self-identified women. We welcome singers of all musical backgrounds, from shower singers to classically trained vocalists, and we perform at a high, professional standard. Our mission is to bring joy and connection through music by performing an entirely secular and modern repertoire including rock, pop, and folk. After more than a decade under the direction of our founding Music Director, we are excited to welcome new leadership to guide us into our next chapter. Overview: As Music Director, you will be the creative and educational leader of Seattle Ladies Choir. The ideal candidate will bring a solid foundation of musical knowledge and teaching experience, be able to teach musicians with a wide variety of experience–including those who do not read music–and be an effective collaborator with the choir board, arrangers, accompanist, band, assistant director, and section leaders. You’ll embrace the passion and vibrancy of our choir, and help us deliver performances that are both polished and full of heart. This role will begin with Season 24, with rehearsals starting in March 2026 and performances in October 2026. We rehearse in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, and perform in Capitol Hill. Before you apply, we recommend watching some past performances to get a sense of our style. You can find our full Season 22 setlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXIMFe7gzfDGBSF7Sv1oauVCAUkeIY18H Compensation: $50-60/hour for rehearsals; $55-65/hour for performances, DOE Schedule: - Weekly rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. (March - October) - Seasonal performance: three concerts in October - Additional rehearsals in the final three weeks of the season: All-day Saturday rehearsal, dress rehearsal, musician/tech rehearsals - Option for 2-3 additional community performances per season Responsibilities: - Lead weekly rehearsals that are fun, inclusive, and musically rigorous, supporting members who may not read music while helping the choir deliver high-quality, professional-level performances. - Teach all repertoire to the choir, ensuring musical accuracy, vocal blend, and expressive performance. - Conduct range checks and assign choir members to parts to balance sections. - Choose roughly one-third of each season’s repertoire; the remaining songs are selected by choir membership vote. - Work with arrangers to ensure arrangements fit the choir’s vibe and include equally engaging parts for all sections. - Manage and collaborate with section leaders to ensure each voice part receives adequate support and coaching. - Manage the assistant director, ensuring they receive all arrangement materials needed to produce part recordings and rehearsal tools. - Sort and filter song suggestions from choir members and audience, ensuring choices meet our all-secular mission, are appropriate for PG-13 audiences, and fit the choir’s style. - Coordinate with the accompanist and band, including scheduling additional rehearsals and collaborating on musician parts. - Attend and conduct the performance at Pride, with potential additional performances (such as community events and volunteer engagements) based on availability. - Collaborate with the choir board on season planning, organizational decisions, and artistic direction by attending board meetings once per month. - Maintain an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive rehearsal atmosphere that balances fun and professionalism. - (Optional) Arrange or adapt music to suit the choir’s strengths. Desired Experience & Skills: - Experience directing or teaching musicians with varied skill levels and backgrounds. - Experience leading and managing large, diverse groups with strong opinions and democratic processes. - Some conducting training or experience; flexibility in conducting style to meet the needs of members with different levels of experience following a conductor. - Commitment to inclusivity and a passion for creating music that reflects and celebrates a diverse community. - Basic piano proficiency - Comfort with music notation and arranging software (e.g., MuseScore, Sibelius) to prepare accompanist tracks and musician parts. - Familiarity with using Google Drive or similar platforms for managing group materials and communications. - Arranging skills are a plus but not required. To Apply: Upload a resume and cover letter in with your Music Director Application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccADqzfnURL4U7Lv7GIy5KeUF6eZzvQYHeeJILVztpHFbyww/viewform