Working Title: Voice Teacher & Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogue

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Visual and Performing Arts

Department: 100028 - School of Music

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 01/15/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

James Madison University invites applicants for the position of Voice Teacher & Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogue within the School of Music, working with both undergraduate and graduate students. This lecturer position is a renewable term appointment and is eligible for promotion opportunities. Our new colleague will have a holistic view of collegiate voice instruction which values strong foundational skills and versatility. We seek a passionate teacher eager to collaborate with faculty and students to build an environment that is just, equitable, and responsive to the needs of the next generation of musicians and artists.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include teaching musical theatre and classical voice lessons, musical theatre vocal pedagogy, directing graduate and undergraduate scholarship in the voice area, and possibly teaching classes aligning with the candidate’s area of interest and expertise. We are particularly interested in candidates who will contribute to a forward-facing curriculum that graduates versatile singers prepared to work in and teach musical theatre. Candidates will build upon the ecosystem where JMU’s School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance collaborate to support all singing actors on campus. The successful candidate will be responsible for recruiting and retaining students, and actively contribute to faculty governance.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:   
• Hold a terminal degree in music and/or musical theatre.
• Demonstrated previous professional experience with collegiate-level voice teaching.
• Ability to teach classical and musical theatre voice.
• Ability to teach vocal pedagogy.
• Evidence of experience and success programming diverse and expansive repertoire. 
• Ability to articulate and practice current trends in music theatre. 
• Ability to lead graduate level research and writing.
• An entrepreneurial mindset to cultivate a dynamic collegiate voice program. 

Preferred Qualifications:   
• Completed doctoral degree.
• Evidence of at least 5 years of collegiate-level teaching.
• Experience with classroom teaching at the collegiate level. 
• Evidence of successful student recruitment.
• Ability to teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate level courses related to musical theatre or commercial music.
• Evidence of professional musical theatre and/or commercial music performance.

Additional Posting Information:

We promote inclusive excellence for all students, faculty, staff, constituents, and programs, believing this is a foundational component of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The University is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality. The College of Visual and Performing Arts and the University strive to create an educational environment that inspires responsible citizenship in a diverse world.

James Madison University is primarily an undergraduate institution with an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. The School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at JMU offers students the benefits of an all-Steinway school and outstanding concert performing experiences in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts. The School of Music is a highly engaged and active program with more than 370 undergraduate majors, and 70+ masters and doctoral students. Additional information on the JMU School of Music can be found at http://www.jmu.edu/music. JMU is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley with easy access to Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Charlottesville. 

To apply, complete the online application and submit:
• Letter of interest (which includes a discussion of research interests and contributions or potential contributions to the inclusive excellence of the classroom, program, and university)
• Curriculum Vita
• Names and contact information for three references
• Links for 3 contrasting examples of you performing musical theatre repertoire (uploaded as one document that contains the three links under “Other Document #1”)

Review of applications begins January 15, 2025.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.