Penn State Univ.

The School of Music at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a full-time, nine-month renewable non-tenure line, open rank faculty position in Choral Music starting August 1, 2025. A doctorate is preferred; a master's degree in a related field is required.

We seek a colleague with a strong commitment to choral education and performance, with a particular focus on African and African American musical traditions. The successful candidate will lead Penn State’s well-known Essence of Joy vocal ensemble, which performs sacred and secular music from the African and African American traditions. Essence of Joy plays a pivotal role in the annual multi-day Penn State African American Music Festival, has a significant community presence, and has toured regionally, nationally, and internationally to much acclaim throughout its 35-year history. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the choral program at Penn State, lead a prestigious and culturally significant ensemble, engage in community outreach, and shape the future of choral music with a focus on cultural diversity and representation.

The ideal applicant will have significant experience in choral conducting, knowledge of diverse repertoire in multiple traditions, and a passion for nurturing a vibrant community of singers. The successful candidate will value strong collaboration with the rest of the Penn State choral community, other areas within the School of Music, and the campus at large. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of educational and musical backgrounds with possible additional expertise in areas such as, but not limited to: piano, improvisation, vocal pedagogy, and/or diverse choral traditions.

Screening of applications will begin on February 28, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.