Associate Artistic Director

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Redwood City, CA
Full-time, exempt, $90,000-100,000, plus $6000 stipend in lieu of benefits

Organization: GRAMMY Award-winning Ragazzi Boys Chorus, Silicon Valley (www.ragazzi.org), under the leadership of Artistic and Executive Director (AED) Kent Jue, provides outstanding musical education and performance opportunities for boys and young men ages 5 to 18. The largest boys’ chorus in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ragazzi serves over 230 choristers in six tiered levels, shaping the lives of boys from diverse backgrounds by developing tenacious and confident young musicians who pursue choral arts of the highest caliber together. Ragazzi ensembles have recently performed Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” with the San Francisco Symphony, Alma Deutscher’s “Cinderella” with Opera San Jose, and were invited to sing at the 2025 ACDA National Conference, 2024 Western ACDA Conference, and 2023 Chorus America Conference.

Position Overview: A member of Ragazzi’s senior artistic leadership team, the Associate Artistic Director (AAD) works closely with and reports to the AED. The AAD is a dynamic choral conductor, expert teacher, and visionary educator who will serve as an ambassador for our internationally recognized boys chorus program. The ADD will conduct Avanti, Ragazzi’s intermediate treble ensemble, re-envision and administer Ragazzi’s theory and musicianship program, and oversee our training ensembles and vocal coaching program. The AAD will work a hybrid on-site (Redwood City, CA)/remote schedule. Although Ragazzi maintains regular business hours, rehearsals, performances, and other educational and concert programming often take place on evenings and weekends. The anticipated start date is July 15, 2025.

Avanti Director (approximately 30-40 treble boys, grades 4-7)

Conduct Avanti (AV) at the annual overnight summer session (camp) (2025 dates: July 27- August 2, 2025)
Plan and conduct twice-weekly engaging rehearsals during the school year (Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) that include vocal technique, sight-reading with moveable do, theory, performance practice, and repertoire (collaborative accompanist provided)
Develop and foster a structured, nurturing, and joyful environment that creates enthusiasm for singing, the ensemble, and the Ragazzi program
Communicate the Ragazzi philosophy clearly and effectively to choristers and families, laying the groundwork for higher levels of commitment to the program
Oversee standard repertoire learning: teach selections, set and communicate deadlines to families and boys, manage record-keeping, and organize student mentors
Teach adjunct classes as needed, including honor choir, special repertoire, and theory (typically 4:45 p.m.–5:15 p.m. on rehearsal days)
Write formal and informal evaluations, keeping choristers and families abreast of progress
Choose festival AV tour location, coordinate tour (in conjunction with tour manager), and lead tour
Prepare Avanti for approximately 10 season performances
Theory and Musicianship Director (Chorus-wide)

Develop a chorus-wide musicianship curriculum utilizing ear-training, sight reading, and practical musicianship to accompany written work (to be fully deployed in year three)
Utilize the existing Monarch Theory written program for the initial year, implementing modifications as needed
Develop and maintain hard and digital copies of curricula
Develop an annual budget for Ragazzi’s theory program
Hire, manage, mentor, and supervise training-level collaborative pianists and theory assistants who teach theory classes, grade books, and serve as study hall mentors
Order and prepare materials for students and teachers
Serve as the Tuesday theory lead and teach classes to training program choristers
Propose online and tech-based extension theory experiences
Develop systems that keep families and choristers apprised of their progress
Develop and manage summer session theory program
Implement advanced opportunities for choristers who have completed Ragazzi’s theory program
Other duties:

Assist the AED with monthly Concert Group and Choral Scholars Saturday rehearsals (2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.) and other rehearsals and performances as needed
Serve as a liaison with professional organizations and community partners as requested by the AED
Oversee training levels program and supervise the Training Groups Coordinator
Manage and further develop Ragazzi’s vocal coaching program
Assist with auditions and recruitment as needed
Other duties as assigned by the AED
Strong candidates will possess the following preferred qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in music education, choral conducting, or music performance, or the equivalent
Seven years of experience teaching music to children and young adults
Kodály training with successful teaching application
Strong knowledge of vocal production and choral technique for boys and young men
Exemplary personal musicianship, conducting skills, and classroom management
Thorough understanding of music theory and a vision for successful theory and musicianship teaching in a community boys chorus setting
Proven experience managing people and programs
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Attention to detail and follow-through skills
Ability to work with others in a collegial and collaborative way
Passion for supporting boys and young men in the choral arts
Compensation: $90,000-100,000, plus $6000 additional stipend in lieu of benefits, 10 Ragazzi holidays, 10 days vacation accrual, sick time accrual. This is a full-time, exempt job. A background check is required. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US and are required to have US residency.

To apply: Please send a cover letter, a resume, a short rehearsal and performance video link, and a recent concert program to Artistic and Executive Director Kent Jue at kjue@ragazzi.org. Ragazzi Boys Chorus is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.