Music

The Organization

Located on the Lək̓ʷəŋən traditional territory, known today as the Songhees, Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), WSÁNEĆ (Tsartlip, Tseycum, and Tsawout) and Scia’new (Beecher Bay) Nations, the Victoria Conservatory of Music identifies equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and reconciliation among its guiding ideals, and encourages applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds. 

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is much more than a music school: it is a creative hub where music, technology, and vision converge – an environment where students can stretch their musical imaginations and audiences listen together. The Conservatory’s beautiful Alix Goolden Performance Hall is a premier, 135 year-old concert space for the Greater Victoria region. Known as the largest independent music school in Western Canada, the Conservatory is also a place where people come for the health and wellness benefits that music brings through the nation’s largest and most impactful music therapy service. 

A not-for-profit charitable organization with a $6m annual operating budget and a number of long-term funds held at the Victoria Foundation, the Conservatory recently updated its strategic plan (https://vcm.bc.ca/news/2024-27-strategic-plan/) and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year following a decade of tremendous growth, including the founding of a contemporary music school, a school of music technology and creativity, and an expansion into nearby Langford, one of the fastest growing municipalities in BC. 

The Opportunity

The Dean of the Victoria Conservatory of Music has the responsibility and authority to direct and manage music-related programming for the Conservatory, including overseeing the integrity and visibility of the community and postsecondary education programs, music therapy, adaptive learning, and wellness programs, in order to ensure the Conservatory continues to develop and build its reputation as a leading centre in Canada for music education, performance, and wellness.

As a key member of the Conservatory’s executive team, the Dean actively participates in setting the strategic direction for the Conservatory. The Dean is accountable for leading the Conservatory's education and artistic vision and ensuring the effective functioning of all aspects of the programming operations to support and meet the targets of the Conservatory’s strategic plan.

The Dean is a leader in developing and maintaining a safe, welcoming, productive, and inspiring environment for learning, performance, and wellness wherever the Conservatory’s programs are delivered.

Role and Responsibilities - Dean, Victoria Conservatory of Music

Key Accountabilities in Educational, Artistic & Music Therapy/Wellness

The Dean collaboratively supervises all department heads who form the Artistic Directorate, which plans and directs all activities within the Conservatory’s program areas. 

Program areas include: 

• Ann & George Nation Conservatory School of Classical Music
• Chwyl Family School of Contemporary Music
• School of Music Technology & Creativity, including Early Childhood Music and Music Outreach
• Department of Postsecondary Studies 
• Centre for Music Therapy & Wellness

Program oversight includes: 

• Developing Curriculum, services development, and ongoing artistic assessments of all programs
• Creating and Managing modes and environments of program delivery
• Actively provides the development of budget planning and ongoing fiscal management
• Ensures the quality of programming and artistic integrity of all program-related public performances by students and/or faculty
• Manages faculty service-related matters

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Creating opportunities for Community Studio (Individual), Group, and Ensemble Instruction models and Fall|Winter|Spring|Summer terms
• Provides oversight of Postsecondary and other advanced training credentialed and non-credentialed programs that are delivered through the Conservatory|Camosun College partnership or the Conservatory’s designations with the Private Training Institutes Branch of the BC Ministry 
• Works collaboratively in the development of Music Therapy, Adaptive Learning and Wellness Programs

Management and Administration

• Creates all Artistic Programming, provides Staff Management and their Development
• Is the leader in all Faculty Management areas
• Provides Budget and Operational oversight 
• Is actively involved in Fundraising and Stakeholder Engagement 
• Provides oversight of registration policies, procedures, and systems
• Collaborates with the Events and Partnerships team, developing performance initiatives and overseeing flagship concerts
• Is responsible for the hiring, management, performance evaluation, and termination of artistic staff, faculty, and members of the Artistic Directorate Committee in conjunction with the CEO

Visibility and Reputation of the Conservatory

• The Dean will play a vital role in enhancing the visibility and positive reputation of the Conservatory
• Creates programs, opportunities, and activities that enhance the Conservatory as a Western Canadian preeminent centre for music excellence
• Maintains a cohesive collaboration between the Artistic Directorate Committee, the Director of Marketing and Communications
• Drives student recruitment initiatives and activities
• Serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors 
• Facilitates the meetings and work of the Artistic and Academics Board Committee
• Represents the artistic, educational, and music-therapy perspectives and activities to the CEO and Board of Governors

Key Characteristics

The successful candidate will have outstanding leadership experience and a passion for education. With strong interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to learning, the Dean will build on the Victoria Conservatory of Music's past success while being creative and innovative with future strategic and programming opportunities. 

A natural collaborator with excellent interpersonal skills, the Dean will be a future thinker with a visionary approach and an ability to build trust by demonstrating responsible leadership. The successful candidate will understand how to maximize initiatives and places a high value on communication. They will have the proven capacity to cultivate effective relationships with multiple stakeholders, lead a high-performance team, and produce results within the educational, programmatic, financial, strategic, and operational realities of the Conservatory and the Community. 

A personable self-starter adept at multitasking and problem solving, the Dean will have a high degree of emotional intelligence and values teamwork and collaboration. The Dean will understand the importance of external stakeholder focus and will be a motivated ambassador and advocate for an organization in a vibrant and increasingly diverse community. The ideal candidate will be comfortable engaging in conversations that generate revenues, build effective partnerships, deepen engagement, and advance innovative approaches to programs, presentations, and educational and community opportunities. 

A natural decision-maker who is creative and resilient, the Dean will embrace a healthy organizational culture based on strategic, artistic, and operational partnerships. With insight and experience in leveraging financial, human, and technological resources, the Dean will also be adept at planning and organizing. 

Experience

The ideal candidates will have five to ten years of progressive leadership experience, with a minimum of a Master’s degree preferred. The new dean will be a nationally recognized professional musician with a demonstrated track record as a performer and/or creator, as well as a well-respected and successful arts administrator. A history of work in a leadership role within an institution of music education and proven accomplishments in financial oversight of a non-profit arts organization will be an asset. The new Dean should also have experience with program development, project direction and management, with the ability to effectively supervise colleagues and build teams through a collegial management style. Potential candidates are required to have the legal ability to work in Canada. 

Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range is $115,000-$125,000, commensurate with experience, plus four weeks of paid annual vacation and an additional week during an institutional closure for the December holidays. The Victoria Conservatory provides health and retirement benefits, which are 100% paid by the Employer. In addition, there is an RSP group program at BMO with matching contributions of up to 5% of salary and paid wellness and Sick Leave provisions.

Application Instructions 

Victoria Conservatory’s Dean Search is led by Martin Bragg, Nicola Dawes, and Sarah Geddes of Martin Bragg & Associates. Please email your letter of interest and resume confidentially with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments on or before January 10, 2025, in Word or PDF format to Martin Bragg & Associates at victoriaconservatory@mbassociates.ca. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, and all applicants will receive an acknowledgment of their application. All successful applicants for positions at the Victoria Conservatory of Music must undertake a current Criminal Record check. The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. No phone calls, please. 

The Victoria Conservatory of Music and Martin Bragg & Associates are committed to an open and transparent hiring process and encourage applications from diverse communities. As such, we promote policies, practices, and programs that create a dialogue toward mutual understanding. We welcome all applications from people of colour, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification and advancement of the arts in our community. 

The Calgary Philharmonic has been a pillar of Calgary’s vibrant arts scene since 1955 and in that time has grown to be one of Canada’s most celebrated live music ensembles. Led by Music Director Rune Bergmann, the Orchestra presents a wide range of concerts, inspiring education programs, and reaches audiences worldwide through free and accessible digital programming. In addition to 66 full-time orchestra musicians, the Calgary Phil is one of two major symphony orchestras in Canada that has its own chorus of over 120 volunteer singers. In a typical season, the Calgary Phil welcomes over 100,000 visitors, connecting audiences to live music experiences, and serves the city of Calgary by fostering creativity and belonging. Your Phil. Your Music.

The Role 

The Artistic Administration Manager assists the Director, Artistic + Education in the planning and presentation of the Calgary Phil concert season. This role supports all programming and has a particular focus on Pops, Symphony Sundays for Kids, and select Special concerts and projects— from generating ideas, negotiation, contracting, and communicating all details to relevant team members to ensure successful and artistically rewarding presentations.

Responsibilities

• Assist with and facilitate the concert season planning process, with specific focus on Pops, Symphony Sundays for Kids, and select Special concerts and projects. 
• Work with Director, Artistic + Education with input from Education + Outreach Manager, Director, Marketing + Sales, and Associate Director, Sales to develop and document concert season pacing
• Negotiate contracts for non-classical concerts to engage conductors, soloists, composers, arrangers, and other required personnel, licensing and rights, and with presenting partners as required, working within budget parameters
• Communicate relevant information to Orchestra Operations team and other Calgary Phil admin, chorus and artistic leadership as applicable to ensure successful execution of concert productions and collaborations
• Manage Artistic Coordinator, supervising preparations of artistic contracts, itineraries, fee requisitions and payments processing for Calgary Phil season concerts. 
• Liaise with Calgary Phil’s home venue Arts Commons (soon to be known as Werklund Centre) and other venues on holds and bookings for concert season planning
• Be knowledgeable of clauses within the Collective Bargaining Agreement that must inform and guide the artistic planning processes for compliance
• Ensure artistic details are entered promptly and kept up to date in OPAS database system
• Serve as secondary point of contact for OPAS administration around users, file structure and reports (primary point of contact is the Information Management Specialist)
• Serve as Power User for SharePoint System and as liaison for technical matters involving Artistic + Education Department
• Report to Director, Artistic + Education each month on guest artist fees, chorus expenses, commissioning expenses, and other expense and revenue lines, as assigned. 
• Proof artistic content for Marketing and Development materials, as required
• Contribute to Calgary Philharmonic Society meetings with Calgary Philharmonic Players Association committees, including Programming, Resident/Associate Conductor, and Orchestra Committees as needed
• Manage and report on music licensing needs of the organization for performances and media 
• Supporting the Director, Artistic + Education, to create and prepare Artistic Budget framework, and input assigned budget lines
• Ensure alignment with financial goals of the Calgary Phil with respect to non-classical programs
• In collaboration with Director, Artistic + Education, develop analysis tools for assessing concerts for the factors of quality, sustainability and audience connection
• Review all contract riders with applicable departments to disseminate information as needed
• Concert and rehearsal duty as assigned       
• Stay informed around industry and local trends that impact this work

Desired Qualifications

• Results-oriented professional with a minimum of 5 years of experience in arts administration, with specific experience in orchestral music programming and/or live performing arts events
• University Degree at Bachelor Level (music degree preferred), or equivalent personal/work experience with various musical genres,
• Strong knowledge of various musical genres
• Strong interpersonal and people management skills
• Strong communication skills 
• Experience negotiating contracts 
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders such as agents, guest artists, conductors, etc.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment and respond calmly to challenging situations
• Strong attention to detail
• Good working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook. Willingness to learn new programs, particularly OPAS (Orchestra Planning and Administration System)
• Reliable, energetic, creative and respectful, possessing sound judgment and the ability to handle confidential/sensitive information
• Flexibility in working hours is required with a combination of regular daytime hours in addition to various evenings and weekends based on the rehearsal/concert duty schedule
• Must have valid Driver’s license

Additional Details

• This position is full-time with an annual salary ranging from $70,000 to $80,000 The successful candidate who meets the required qualifications can expect to start at the mid-range salary level.
• This position will require evening and weekend work 
• The Calgary Phil is trialing a hybrid remote work program. Employees who are eligible for this program can work up to three days / week from an appropriate remote location
• As part of our full compensation package, Calgary Phil offers 3 weeks’ vacation, a comprehensive benefits package that includes RRSP contributions, health coverage, an employee assistance program, bonus days off, and other non-cash benefits.
• Office location: Arts Commons, Floor 2, 205 8 Avenue SE Calgary AB T2G 0K9

Application Process 

Application deadline: 15 January 2025

Applications will be reviewed regularly, and suitable candidates may be contacted before the deadline. No phone calls or emails please.

Please send cover letter and resume to: 

Andrea Davison, 

Director, Artistic + Education 

HR@calgaryphil.com with the subject line "Artistic Administration Manager” 

The Calgary Phil is committed to fostering an anti-racist, equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment and, as such, encourages qualified candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

If you require accommodation for the recruitment/interview process, please let us know so that we can work with you to accommodate your needs. 

We thank you for your interest in the Calgary Phil. Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Follow the Calgary Philharmonic @calgaryphil on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and register for email updates at www.calgaryphil.com/newsletter.

Application Deadline February 19, 2025

Program Dates Jul 21, 2025 - Aug 15, 2025

Overview

The Audio Recording Engineer program is a continuing education opportunity designed for emerging recording engineers with mature artistic insight, professional experience and/or formal professional/educational training. Learning objectives have been integrated into artistic residency programs, inviting exciting opportunities for collaboration and connection in this redeveloped applied-learning program.

Participants will receive mentorship from experienced professionals, enhancing their technical abilities and learning about new equipment, software, and recording techniques while supporting selected musicians in the Jazz and Sonic Arts 2025 program.

Description

Emerging Audio Engineers from around the world are invited to participate in our program to expand their technical proficiency, nurture creativity, and elevate their recording abilities in diverse genres of music. Successful applicants will benefit from:

• Close mentorship by international faculty, staff producers, engineers, and technologists.
• Experience recording live concerts in jazz and related genres, dependent on the repertoire of accepted musicians.
• Developing communication skills and interactive strategies to engage with musicians for an optimal recording experience.
• Gaining experience in studio recording sessions with diverse repertoire.
• A deepened knowledge of industry trends and best practices.
• Networking opportunities with other audio engineers, professional musicians, artists in other disciplines, and invited guests.
• Access to professionally equipped studio spaces.
• Materials/assets for professional portfolio.

Requirements 

Applicants should have a combination of formal training and/or professional experience or aptitude in audio engineering. Required skills include:

• A working knowledge of Pyramix, and ProTools is desirable.
• A practical understanding of file creation and management.
• Ability to participate collaboratively and thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Applicants should be able to manage resources, produce to schedule, and multitask effectively with strong time management, diplomacy, and communication skills. Please note, Banff Centre Professional training programs are instructed in English. 

You Pay (accommodation & meal plan costs after scholarship applied): $2 097.90

Apply online

The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge seeks a new Executive Director to assume a leadership position in 2025.
POSITION: Executive Director
Hours: Full-time, permanent position
Location: In-person, Lethbridge, Alberta
Website: artslethbridge.org/job-opportunities
Closing date: January 9, 11:59 pm

The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge (AAC) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that promotes and supports the growth and development of the arts sector in Lethbridge while upholding the values of creativity, collaboration and inclusiveness, professionalism and accountability.

Established in 1958, as a member-based society, the AAC is a multi-faceted organization whose activities include: advocacy on behalf of artists and arts organizations, increasing public understanding of and support for the arts, promoting arts events and initiatives, and creating events and opportunities for artists and the community to come together. The AAC is also responsible for the management of Casa the City of Lethbridge’s purpose-built community art centre.

The AAC seeks a dynamic, visionary and self-motivated leader to assume the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director will report to the AAC Board of Directors and will provide strategic and fiscal leadership for the organization. They will be accountable for the implementation of the Board’s strategic plan; oversight of all AAC policies, operations, services and programs, and the supervision of the AAC management team.

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the arts sector and its value to the broad community which will allow them to be an advocate for the AAC and the arts community. They will be recognized for their big-picture thinking skills and will have a proven record of implementing successful initiatives.  They will also demonstrate the ability to support and lead a diverse team. Their superior relationship-building and communication skills will allow them to collaborate with a variety of sector, community and government stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or a minimum 3 years management experience and demonstrated
  leadership in the Arts
• Experience working with a nonprofit organization; preferably an arts organization
• Strong planning, organizational and analytical skills
• Experience working with the media
• Experience developing and managing budgets and grant writing experience
• Knowledge of the Lethbridge and area arts sector

Primary areas of responsibility include but are not limited to:

• Board of Directors liaison and support
• Leadership, supervision and evaluation of senior staff
• Program development, management and evaluation
• Fiscal management, grant oversight and fund development
• Contract management
• Cultivating strong community relationships
• Liaison with City of Lethbridge administration

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and resume with salary expectations and three references, to the attention of: Hiring Committee, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge, hr@artslethbridge.org before January 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm. 

Interviews will be scheduled for Jan 21 - 24. Only candidates short-listed for interviews will be contacted. Expected start date is March 29, 2023. A Criminal Record check will be required. Compensation will be commensurate with experience (Salary Range: $78,000 - $83,000). This position comes with a competitive health benefits plan.

For further information, please contact:  Jon Oxley, Board President, by email at hr@artslethbridge.org

The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.

The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge acknowledges that we are gathered on the lands of the Blackfoot people of the Canadian Plains and pays respect to the Blackfoot people past, present and future while recognizing and respecting their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship to the land.  The City of Lethbridge is also home to the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

Celebrate the arrival of 2025 with A Luminous New Year’s Eve, a beloved Calgary tradition that promises an unforgettable evening of music and celebration.

Hosted by Luminous Voices, Calgary’s renowned professional chamber choir, the concert will feature a breathtaking selection of unaccompanied choral works, plus a few sing-along and, of course, Auld Lang Syne!

Enjoy sparkling wine and decadent chocolates from Master Chocolat during intermission. This concert is a perfect choral tradition in Calgary to share with family and friends during the holidays.

A Luminous New Year’s Eve will take place on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 7:30 pm at the Bella Concert Hall, Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts, Mount Royal University (18 Mount Royal Circle SW, Calgary)

Tickets are $50 (adults) / $45 (seniors) / $25 (students) plus fees and are available online through MRU Box Office at tickets.mru.ca, by calling (403) 440-7770, or at the door.

For more information, please visit luminousvoices.com or call (587) 889-8370.

With its release in 2022, Be Alright!, was the first album to debut at #1 on Alberta's CKUA Top 30 Chart. His duets album with Dana Wylie "The Day Had To Come" was in CKUA's Top 30 for 16 weeks.

The Portland/Edmonton based singer has “...vocals that emanate…an air of melancholy. Roy Orbison, with a dash of Chris Isaak and a pinch of gospel-era Elvis Presley are the knee-jerk comparisons, as Volkov sings like a man out of time.” (The Edmonton Journal).

He has shared stages with Mariel Buckley, Boy Golden, Del Barber, Frazey Ford, and recently appeared at the Edmonton and Calgary Folk Music Festivals.

www.thecarrot.ca/events-at-the-carrot/2024/12/13/fnl-sammy-volkov