Youth Orchestra Director

Youth Orchestra Director - Job Announcement (5/29/2025) 

Position Title: Youth Orchestra Director

Locations: OES Office (345 SW 4th St, Pendleton, OR 97801), Various locations around Pendleton area

Hours: Part Time (approximately 17 hours/week) 

Compensation: Monthly salary of $2000-$2300, preferably starting August 1st, 2025. Stipend for use of personnel cell phone.

Reports to: OES Executive Director and OES Education Committee

Works with: OES Executive Director, OES Board of Directors, OES Education Committee and community partners (Pendleton School District, churches, civic service organizations, etc.).

The Oregon East Symphony is pleased to announce we are hiring for a part-time Youth Orchestra Director position to preferably begin on August 1st, 2025 for Playing for Keeps, our classical music education initiative for rural youth with a heavy emphasis on string instruments. Our departing Education Director, who is entering an orchestral conducting doctorate program, is leaving behind a robust suite of classical music education activities designed for different ages and skill levels.

This position will allow the candidate additional income opportunities through the maintenance of a private instruction studio (space provided by the Oregon East Symphony) and performances with regional orchestras (Oregon East Symphony, Mid-Columbia, Walla Walla Symphony) and within the immediate community.

Duties:

• Oversee all aspects of Playing for Keeps programming
• Conduct OES Youth Orchestra which includes weekly rehearsals and three annual performances and occasional side-by-side performances with the Oregon East Symphony
• Coordinate with Preludes beginner level orchestra conductor
• Direct and teach in annual Summer Strings Music Camp 
• Teach in Symphony Strings afterschool program 
• Coach the Raising the Bar mentorship activity
• Coach Youth Chamber Collective chamber ensemble activity
• Teach private lessons to students who qualify for private lesson financial assistance
• Manage OES Instrument Library 
• Coordinate educational outreach visits and workshops by visiting Oregon East Symphony soloists
• Provide OES Executive staff with PFK information and metrics as needed 
• Maintain communications with:
  • local public music educators regarding PFK activities and collaborations 
  • Families of PFK participants 
  • OES executive and artistic staff, board, and committee members 
• Develop pilot programming which may include conducting workshops and/or music theory courses

Preferred Qualifications:

• Possess a Bachelor’s Degree in either Music Performance or Music Education
• Have experience performing in a professional level orchestra
• Have the ability to perform/instruct on standard classical stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass)
• Possess a love of teaching and working with children
• Be willing to reside in and be an integral member of a rural community

About us: The Oregon East Symphony is a 501c3 cultural non-profit established in Pendleton, OR in 1986. Our current mission is, “To sustain a symphony orchestra, chorale and music education program to enhance the cultural richness of Umatilla and Morrow Counties and the Umatilla Indian Reservation.” To achieve our mission we present two streams of programming; an annual symphonic concert season, and Playing for Keeps.

To Apply: Please submit the following materials - which clearly demonstrate your experience in teaching, performing and conducting - to director@oregoneastsymphony.org or Oregon East Symphony, Attn: J.D. Kindle, PO Box 1436, Pendleton, OR 97801:

• Cover letter
• CV or resume
• Audition video demonstrating full range of musical abilities
• Three letters of recommendation which may be from a faculty member or recent employer

Deadline for receiving application materials is June 30th, 2025. Interviews will be scheduled during the first two weeks of July 2025. Prospective applicants will undergo a background check conducted by the Oregon State Police.