link to dates

We welcome candidates who are interested in growing professionally. Please consider applying even if there are items on this list which are areas of growth for you. Our hope is for the new artistic director and the organization to have a mutually beneficial relationship; the interview and audition process will be an opportunity for us to explore what that might look like for each individual candidate.

We are looking for candidates with:

• Demonstrated alignment with Musae's core values, as listed below

• Extensive knowledge of treble choral repertoire

• Extensive choral conducting background; M.M. preferred

• Commitment to examining race, class, gender, and sexuality biases

• Vision for creating structures to support inclusion, equity, and a greater sense of belonging

• Substantial experience with concert programming

• Willingness to program adventurous music to advance the mission of the ensemble

• Enthusiasm for preparing singers to perform unconducted and memorized

• Experience working with singers as peers and professionals to advance and enhance skills

• Experience preparing emotionally, artistically, and visually compelling performances

• Interest in multiple forms of vocal music and experimental collaborations

• Some instrumental conducting experience preferred

• Ability to write program notes and speak at concerts

• Experience working in a nonprofit context with volunteers and a board of directors

• Ability to support and advocate for administrative and financial functions of the organization

• Excellent organizational and communication skills

• Can-do spirit, willingness to get the work done, infectious enthusiasm that inspires others

Musae offers a new experience of treble voices by combining musical artistry with an innovative and generous approach to performance. Music is an essential part of our lives. Our commitment to excellence and collaborative learning challenges us to push artistic boundaries each season. We believe that Musae's heartfelt and adventurous music making inspires audiences and builds community.

Each Musae singer is committed to musical excellence and strives to embody the following core values:

• Dynamic, versatile, and confident performance

• Independent and accomplished musicianship

• Balanced ability to both lead and follow as necessary

• Vocal accuracy, agility, and expressiveness

• Active engagement in ongoing learning and growth

• Willingness to take risks and move outside one's personal comfort zone

• Support of and engagement in the group process

• Ability to dedicate ample time and energy to producing high quality performances

• Commitment to cultivating a communal space that is welcoming and inclusive of all people

The artistic director sets the vision for the ensemble and supports each singer in embodying the values above. They select repertoire, prepare for performances, lead rehearsals, and work with the board and administrative team to ensure a successful season of concerts, recordings, rehearsals, and other events.

The annual stipend for this position starts at $12,000.

​The estimated time commitment is 6-10 hours per week, including rehearsals:

• Tuesday evenings rehearsals, 6:30-9pm at Kanbar Center of Performing Arts in SF

• Two daytime weekend retreats per concert cycle (dates are flexible)

• Other hours are for preparation and administrative work

The artistic director works closely with the administrative director to facilitate the organization and functioning of Musae, with support from the president of the board. Currently, both the administrative director and the board president are also singers in Musae.

The artistic director programs the concert cycle, rehearses the group, and facilitates a meaningful musical experience for singers and audience members. The artistic director’s role includes auditioning new members prior to their second/callback audition with the whole group.

Concerts are in December and May, and are 60-70 minutes in length. Other performances of varying formality may occur throughout the season.

Additional Information:

• Musae typically performs unconducted and singers memorize the repertoire.

• The group does not engage a regular piano accompanist in rehearsal or performance.

• We occasionally perform with a conductor based on the circumstance (example: masked performances).

• Musae sometimes collaborates with other vocal ensembles and instrumental groups

Musae is a treble vocal ensemble based in San Francisco. The group takes its name from the original "ladies of song," the classic nine muses of Greek mythology. Since its founding in 2004, Musae has performed diverse and accessible music throughout the Bay Area, and continues to stretch the boundaries of traditional repertoire for treble voices.

Musae functions as a musical collective in which each singer identifies as a leader and soloist contributing actively to the artistic process. The group's singers are trained in the choral tradition, but not bound by it. Each singer may sing a range of voice parts based on the aesthetic demands of the music, and the group performs without a conductor.

In its first six seasons, Musae established itself as an up-and-coming member of the Bay Area music community. The group workshopped with acclaimed vocal ensembles Kitka and Chanticleer, performed at charity events, hosted a series of open houses, and produced a full schedule of seasonal concerts. Whether in Berkeley, Marin, on the Peninsula, or at home in San Francisco, Musae offers its audiences a new experience of treble voices with a repertoire including sacred chants, baroque masterpieces, choral standards, chamber pieces with string quartet, spirituals, folk songs, jazz, and popular music from five continents.

In 2005, Musae released its debut album, From Argentina to Appalachia, featuring music from North America, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. Alegría y Placer: A Musae Christmas followed in 2007, showcasing local composer Conrad Susa's "Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest" for treble chorus, harp, marimba, vibraphone, and guitar.

In 2008-2009, Musae celebrated its 5th Anniversary Season, during which the group presented its first ever Meet the Composer event, premiered works composed especially for the group, hosted a party and fundraiser at The City Club of San Francisco, and brought its annual December and May concerts to audiences in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Tiburon. In 2009, the group released Five, a fifth anniversary CD, and in 2010, the group premiered its first full-length commission from local composer Dwight Okamura.

In 2012, Musae welcomed Ben Johns of Chanticleer as its artistic director. Musae performed at Chanticleer's 35th Anniversary Gala and participates in the New Music for Treble Voices Choral Festival held annually in Palo Alto. With the 2013-2014 season, Musae celebrated its 10th Anniversary Season, continuing to perform around the Bay Area and produce music of the highest caliber.

In 2016, Laney Armstrong became Musae's artistic director. She is a singer and conductor who has made choral music and choral music education her life’s work. As a conductor and educator, Dr. Armstrong strived to cultivate a love of music in each singer through quality programing, building skills and musicianship, and devotion to the music and texts. During Laney’s tenure, Musae collaborated with other Bay Area ensembles including Ragazzi Continuo, Kronos Quartet, Fog City Singers, and San Francisco Girls Chorus.

In 2018, Musae established a new administrative director position. Previously, administrative tasks had been shared by the singers who served on committees to facilitate the organization and functioning of the group. There had developed a need to alleviate time commitment to singers and centralize administrative projects. Kim McClain became the administrator director and began managing bookkeeping, budgeting, auditions, personnel, calendar, logistics, venues, marketing, concert production, and fundraising.

In 2019, Musae was invited to perform at the California Choral Directors Association state convention in San Jose. During this same year the ensemble celebrated its 15th anniversary season. The following season was cut short due to the pandemic, and after an extended break from rehearing and performing in person, the group returned for the 2021-2022 season.

During the 2022-2023 season Musae welcomed two interim artistic directors: Joel Chapman for the fall concert cycle and Elizabeth Kimble for the spring concert cycle.

Musae is supported by a loyal group of supporters, donors, and audience members.

Please submit materials or questions to info@musae.org no later than November 1, 2022:

• Cover letter and resume

• Two audio or video samples of previous conducting or artistic director work

• Two samples of previous concert programs, including program notes if available

• Two professional references (name, relationship, contact information)

Selected applicants will be invited to interview with members of the board, some of whom are also singers in the group. Top candidates will be invited to audition with the entire ensemble; finalist auditions will take place in January 2023 during regular Tuesday evening rehearsals at Kanbar Center in SF. The board will hire for this position in spring of 2023, with the artistic director assuming leadership of the group in summer of 2023.