Assistant or Associate Teaching Professor of Vocal Coaching/Musical Director
Requisition Number:
67056
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
Faculty
Schedule:
Full-Time
Date Posted:
29-Aug-2025
Job Summary
The College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder seeks an experienced and versatile Assistant or Associate Teaching Professor of Vocal Coaching and Musical Director with specialized expertise in Musical Theater and Opera. This integral position will primarily focus on musical directing at least one musical production per academic year, providing essential vocal and musical support for both musical theater and operatic productions, assisting with relevant classes, and enhancing the musical skills of undergraduate and graduate students across various vocal programs. The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep understanding of vocal repertoire, pedagogy, and performance practices in both genres.
This is a full-time, non-tenure track appointment, with full benefits. The initial contract will commence on August 13, 2026, end the day after commencement in May 2029, and will be renewable for three-year contract periods thereafter.
This is a full-time, non-tenure track appointment, with full benefits. The initial contract will commence on August 13, 2026, end the day after commencement in May 2029, and will be renewable for three-year contract periods thereafter.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
The College of Music, founded in 1920, is recognized as one of the top comprehensive music schools in the country. The College of Music offers seven degree programs in over 28 fields of study, at the bachelor’s level through the doctorate. Our dedicated and encouraging community of 550 degree-seeking students, 70 full-time faculty, 30 part-time faculty, and 40 professional, technical and administrative staff produces over 350 performances and numerous guest lectures, master-classes, and outreach events each year.
Faculty in the CU Boulder Voice department guide developing vocalists in their journey to becoming multiskilled artists and teachers through their focused curriculum, and through programs ranging from voice performance and vocal pedagogy to operatic performance and musical theatre. Our faculty value a strong relationship between teaching and performance.
Among our alumni are Grammy Award winners and accomplished performers who have appeared on worldwide stages including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera and Santa Fe Opera. Our graduates have participated in both national and international young artist programs in both opera and musical theatre. As pedagogues, our graduates hold positions across three continents, both traditional academic positions and as private studio teachers. Our alumni also work as administrators, ranging from positions at high-level musical institutions to forming their own nonprofit community-based musical organizations.
The voice department is home to the Eklund Opera and Musical Theatre programs, with each program featuring two fully staged productions each academic year.
Faculty in the CU Boulder Voice department guide developing vocalists in their journey to becoming multiskilled artists and teachers through their focused curriculum, and through programs ranging from voice performance and vocal pedagogy to operatic performance and musical theatre. Our faculty value a strong relationship between teaching and performance.
Among our alumni are Grammy Award winners and accomplished performers who have appeared on worldwide stages including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera and Santa Fe Opera. Our graduates have participated in both national and international young artist programs in both opera and musical theatre. As pedagogues, our graduates hold positions across three continents, both traditional academic positions and as private studio teachers. Our alumni also work as administrators, ranging from positions at high-level musical institutions to forming their own nonprofit community-based musical organizations.
The voice department is home to the Eklund Opera and Musical Theatre programs, with each program featuring two fully staged productions each academic year.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Musical Direction and Production Support:
- Musical direct at least one musical production annually, working with students in major and mid-sized roles in Musical Theatre or Opera. This may be used to fulfill recital requirements for graduate students pending faculty approval.
- Provide musical coaching and support for vocal students involved in operatic and musical theater productions.
- Provide Vocal Coaching for Operatic Productions.
Vocal Coaching and Instruction:
- Provide specialized vocal repertoire coaching for graduate and undergraduate students.
- Support Musical Theatre Studio classes and Opera Theater classes.
- Guide students in preparing repertoire for jury examinations and recitals, ensuring adherence to specified requirements regarding memorization, language, style, and inclusion of diverse composers.
- Encourage student familiarity with the work of contemporary composers through performance, listening, or collaboration with composition students.
Curriculum and Repertoire Development:
- Maintain and expand a comprehensive knowledge of vocal literature across historical periods and national styles for both performance and teaching.
What We Can Offer
The salary range for an Assistant Teaching Professor is $55,000 - $61,500 annually.
The salary range for an Associate Teaching Professor is $62,000 - $71,000 annually.
Onboarding assistance may be available within department guidelines.
Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.
Be Statements
Be accomplished. Be talented. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Master's degree or equivalent experience.
What You Will Need
- Expertise in Musical Theater: Demonstrated proficiency in musical theater repertoire, performance practices, and coaching, including experience with Musical Theatre Studio courses and American Musical Theatre History.
- Expertise in Opera Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in opera coaching and performance practices, with a strong knowledge of major opera roles and arias, as expected for MM and DMA students. Additional knowledge in art song, oratorio or other vocal styles is useful, but not required.
- Piano Proficiency: A high level of proficiency at the keyboard.
- Language and Diction Competency: Demonstrated competency in additional singing languages is expected, consistent with working in operatic environment.
- Familiarity with preparing vocal repertoire in multiple foreign languages for diverse student levels and degree requirements.
- Repertoire Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of a broad repertoire of songs and arias suitable for teaching and performance across various national and historic styles.
- Teaching and Coaching Experience: Proven ability to provide applied instruction and repertoire coaching to university-level students.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Experience in musical directing a variety of musical theater and coaching operatic productions.
- Familiarity with music technology, especially in regards to Musical Theater.
Special Instructions
For full consideration, please apply by September 29, 2025. The position will remain open until filled.
To apply, please submit the following materials online:
- Current Curriculum Vitae.
- Cover letter.
- Link to video featuring collaboration with a vocalist.
- Link to video featuring coaching in both Operatic and Musical Theater Styles.
- Optional: Link to video conducting a Musical Theater ensemble.
During the application process, you will need to enter contact information for three (2) references. We may request confidential letters of recommendation at a later time. This information will be kept confidential and viewable only by the search committee.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu