Position Title: Director of Education & Community Engagement

Department: Artistic Operations

Salary Range: $70,000-85,000 (Commensurate w/exp.)

Employee Group: Full Time

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm (evenings & weekends required)

FLSA: Exempt

Location: JMSH

Work Modality: On-site

Reports to: Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

 

Position Summary:

The Director of Education & Community Engagement (“Director”) provides strategic leadership for a broad portfolio of innovative education, lifelong learning, and community engagement programs at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO). These include the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras (BSYO), BSO Academy, Midweek and Family Concerts, Music Box Concerts, BSO on the Go, Side-By-Side performances, Open Rehearsals, and more.

The Director plays a key role in advancing the BSO’s vision to be a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible organization. This includes leading efforts to build lasting partnerships, developing community-based initiatives, and promoting the BSO’s presence throughout the region—working to make the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall a true “Hall for All.”

A successful candidate will demonstrate a deep and sustained commitment to music education across all ages and communities, along with a passion for orchestral music. The Director must be a collaborative, inclusive leader, eager to build new relationships while strengthening existing ties within and beyond the BSO’s diverse audiences.

 

Duties & Responsibilities

• In close collaboration with the SVP & COO, VP of OrchKids, and BSO Artistic Operations Team the Director leads the education strategy, development, staffing, resourcing, execution, and continuous improvement of BSO education and community engagement programs – new and existing.
• Provide strategic and operational oversight for all BSO education programs, including:
  • BSO Youth Orchestras (BSYO): Orchestral training program for young musicians that includes four ensembles.
  • BSO Academy: Comprehensive one-week program for adult amateur players.
  • Side-By-Sides: Special rehearsals and/or performance opportunities for high school and college students to perform side by side with BSO Musicians.
  • Music Box Concerts: for pre-school children
  • Midweeks and Family Concert Series: for school-aged children
  • BSO on the Go: Musician-led mentoring program serving students and schools in various Maryland counties and ensemble performances in community venues.
• Oversee the BSO’s Education and Community Engagement team of two full-time members, part-time support staff, and the three BSYO Conductors.
• Manages all aspects of BSO Education Programs, including:
  • Staffing, budgeting, billing, expense management, and resource planning
  • Effectively communicate with key stakeholders, e.g. parents, community members, educational institutions, BSO leadership and staff
  • Schedules and leads meetings with key stakeholders, as appropriate
    • Oversee the agenda for BSYO advisory council (consulting with SVP & COO and chair)
  • Oversee the creation of documents for marketing/PR/Advancement on behalf of BSYO needs (programs, concert events, numbers for grant reporting)
  • Oversee BSYO rehearsals, concerts, and other activities, as required
  • Interacts with external partners, maintaining ongoing communication and positive relations
  • Works closely with SVP & COO on partnerships, ongoing and new
  • Collaborates with various BSO Departments, as it relates to education programs
  • Assists with website management and innovation and links to BSO website, as it relates to all education programs
• Leads, plans and coordinates BSO efforts and initiatives towards “building bridges” and effective relationships/partnerships with key stakeholders and constituencies across the communities currently served by the BSO and seek opportunities to expand our BSO family.
• Perform additional duties as assigned

 Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field.
• Substantial career experience in education.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in the orchestral field, or broader education field (or equivalent).
• Proven leadership and managerial skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.

 Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Education, Music, Arts Administration, or related field.
• Degree in Education and/or Music strongly preferred.
• Creativity, innovation, and deep knowledge of orchestral industry best practices.
• Demonstrated administrative competencies, including budgeting, scheduling, artistic planning, and program execution.
• Experience representing or working with a world-class performing arts organization.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Two plan options at low cost for employees
• Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability Insurance: Fully paid by the BSO
• Paid Time Off: Generous leave including vacation, personal, and sick time
• Retirement & Savings:
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Complimentary or discounted tickets to BSO performances

About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. The orchestra is internationally renowned and locally admired for its innovation, performances, recordings, and educational outreach initiatives, including OrchKids.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs annually for more than 275,000 people throughout the State of Maryland. Since 1982, the BSO has performed at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, and since 2005, with the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, the BSO became the nation’s first orchestra performing its full season of classical and pops concerts in two metropolitan areas.

In July 2022, the BSO made history with the announcement that Jonathon Heyward would succeed Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder Marin Alsop as the Orchestra’s next Music Director. Maestro Heyward began his inaugural season in September 2023.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.

More information about the BSO can be found at www.bsomusic.org.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and OrchKids do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, differing physical abilities, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

EEO is the Law:https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf