CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The Syracuse Orchestra is always looking for talented individuals who can help expand our mission to influence and educate the Syracuse community through the power of music. View the information below to learn about our available positions and how to apply. Thank you for your interest in The Syracuse Orchestra!
ARTISTIC JOB OPENINGS
Position Announcement: Music Director
Reports to: The Syracuse Orchestra Executive Director
Status: Full-time
Salary Range: An annualized compensation package starting at $90,000, including full health benefits.
Location: Syracuse, NY. Full-time residency in the Central New York area is strongly preferred.
The Syracuse Orchestra welcomes applications for the position of music director. The public search will take place during the 2025-26 concert season, and the successful candidate will begin in the 2026-2027 season. The successful candidate will be responsible for repertoire, programming, and artistic excellence, as well as the selection, development, and succession of musicians.
As the orchestra’s artistic leader, they must build and sustain the orchestra’s visibility and involvement in the community. By working collaboratively with musician/board committees, as well as the executive director, board president, and staff, the music director should embrace The Syracuse Orchestra’s innovative, cooperative model of arts management, and help to shape that model for the future. Additionally, the music director is expected to actively participate in the orchestra’s fundraising and marketing activities.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate must possess exceptional musicianship and conducting skills: requisite conducting experience, including working with professional musicians; knowledge of a broad range of repertoire; leadership through strong interpersonal and communication skills; vision, passion, and drive to make symphonic music relevant and captivating for every audience. Current music directorship or comparable experience preferred.
The Orchestra
As Central New York’s professional orchestra, The Syracuse Orchestra presents 50+ orchestra concerts each year through its series of Masterworks, Pops, Casual, Spark, Kids, and free summer concerts during a 37-week season. As one of only 2 cooperative orchestras in the United States, our musicians play an active and crucial role in its strategic direction and governance. Governance is shared by the orchestra. Orchestra members annually approve the slate of board members. Musicians comprise up to 49% of the board of director membership as full-voting members of the board. The Syracuse Orchestra’s annual operating budget is $3.9 million. The music director is the artistic leader of the organization, and is expected to work collaboratively with the board, orchestra, and staff to develop and implement an artistic vision that is inspiring and resonant to the CNY community.
The Syracuse Orchestra’s mission is to engage and inspire all community members throughout Central New York with outstanding orchestral and ensemble performances, and innovative education and outreach initiatives. Our vision is to contribute to a diverse, vibrant, and culturally rich community through the power of great music, and in so doing, enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of Central New York. We value innovation, excellence, and collaboration.
About the community: Syracuse and Onondaga County are in the heart of Central New York with a population of more than 450,000. Syracuse is a 4-hour drive north of NYC, 2 hours east of Buffalo, and 2 hours west of Albany. It is the hub of a six-county region with a population of more than 1 million. Central New York is poised to grow rapidly over the next two decades with the new investment of a $100 billion Micron semiconductor manufacturing plant.
Applications
Application must include the following:
- Personal letter of interest from the candidate
- Short resume (no more than 2 pages)
- Three to five sample programs conducted by the candidate
- Names, email addresses, and phone numbers of at least three professional references.
- Links to video recordings demonstrating competency conducting professional-level orchestras, with at least 3 different music styles/time periods demonstrated (maximum of 20 minutes total for video samples)
Please submit complete applications by September 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST to mdsearch@syracuseorchestra.org.
The Syracuse Orchestra Symphony is an equal opportunity employer. To learn more about The Syracuse Orchestra, go to syracuseorchestra.org.
AUDITIONS
All winning candidates are required to show proof of US citizenship or eligibility to work in the United States.
Should any position be offered to a current Syracuse Orchestra musician, the resulting vacancy may be offered at these auditions.
The audition committee reserves the right to immediately dismiss any candidate not meeting the highest professional standards.
Please note: all audition repertoire is subject to change
The Syracuse Orchestra is proud to be a partner orchestra of the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras. It will do so by offering Black and Latinx musicians a customized combination of mentoring, audition preparation, financial support, and audition previews. Learn more at http://www.auditionalliance.org.
SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA MUSICIANS
Auditions for Substitute and Extra Musicians are held periodically. To be considered please send a one page resume to Arvilla Wendland at AWendland@SyracuseOrchestra.org
*Acceptance to The Syracuse Orchestra’s Substitute and Extra List does not guarantee employment.
STAFF OPENINGS
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: The Syracuse Orchestra Stage Manager
REPORTS TO: Orchestra Manager
STATUS: Full-time, non-exempt, 43 week position. Overtime will sometimes be required, with a supervisor’s approval. Salary: $725/week for a minimum of 43 weeks per year. Working weeks coincide with the orchestra’s rehearsal and performance schedule. This position is eligible for employer-paid individual health benefits (optional employee paid vision/dental/family health available).
JOB SUMMARY:
The The Syracuse Orchestra Stage Manager is responsible for the physical setup of the orchestra and ensembles. This position includes responsibility for the physical operation of the professional orchestra during its 35- week winter season, the 2- or 3-week summer concert series in July, and other presentations by The Syracuse Orchestra including staging, set-up and strike, the physical stage conditions, moving, storage and maintenance of all orchestra equipment for all services in multiple venues. The candidate will help to implement procedures for timely and effective performance-related tasks and be responsible for the preparation and appearance of the stage for performances and the execution of services as determined by the Orchestra Manager and/or Conductor. This position includes working evenings and most weekends during the The Syracuse Orchestra concert season (September – May). Personal leave or personal time off is rarely granted during the winter or summer performance season.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Hours: The Syracuse Orchestra produces several series of concerts by season, with each set consisting of performances at a variety of local and regional venues. Concerts are typically scheduled for Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Rehearsals are often scheduled during weekdays, sometimes during regular business hours and sometimes in the evenings. The orchestra performs run-out concerts (out- of-town or out-of-county), and these events require lengthened call times that vary depending on the location of the event. Concerts are not always scheduled on consecutive weeks, so there are dark paid weeks every month.
Physical Demands: The Stage Manager will have to lift supplies, materials and equipment, and push instrument cases and equipment on wheels. This person may also need to stand for long periods of time while preparing and running concert events.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Oversee the set-up and arrange the professional orchestra — chairs, music stands, percussion, large instruments, and other equipment – as assigned. This may include set changes for/during concerts. It also includes providing the best possible working conditions for professional musicians on and off stage and assisting our staff in anticipating logistical problems.
• Point person to address professional musician working condition concerns, such as temperature, lighting, or safety; effectively problem solve well in advance of any given service, in order that potential problems may be averted.
• Work with IATSE stagehands at union venues, and oversee and manage The Syracuse Orchestra stage hands at various locations.
• Implement stage logistics in all venues, including load in/load out as scheduled.
• Load, unload, and drive the equipment truck at concerts and at the conclusion of the set or event, and transport and repack all equipment for services as assigned.
• Maintain inventory of all The Syracuse Orchestra equipment, making periodic checks on conditions and performing minor repairs or arranging necessary repairs if needed as assigned.
• Maintain optimal condition of all equipment whether owned or rented.
• Ensure the professional appearance of the orchestra on stage.
• Assist with scheduling and maintaining the orchestra’s venues, including scheduling, maintenance, and cleaning, as needed.
• Other duties as required by the Orchestra Manager and other The Syracuse Orchestra staff as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
• A valid NY State driver’s license and a clean driving record are required and the ability to drive a 16’ and 26’ box truck are required. A CDL class B license is preferred.
• A minimum of 1 year of orchestra or theater stage experience is preferred.
• Working knowledge of orchestral instruments, percussion instruments, and orchestral seating conventions helpful.
• Ability to lift, carry and move up to 50 lbs.
• Effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multitask well in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Enthusiasm about working with professional musicians.
• Basic computer knowledge is helpful, including ability to work in customer relationship management software.
• The ability to work as part of a team with other The Syracuse Orchestra staff.
• Previous experience with performing arts operations is desirable but not required.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send a one page cover letter, resume, and references to:
Jon Garland
Director of Operations
The Syracuse Orchestra
JGarland@SyracuseOrchestra.org
Link to pdf for this position posting
INTERNSHIP OPENINGS
Join The Syracuse Orchestra team and experience the excitement of a growing arts nonprofit! Located in downtown Syracuse, The Syracuse Orchestra is Central New York’s professional symphony orchestra and features a core of 50 experienced musicians who are committed to Central New York. Founded in December 2012, The Syracuse Orchestra operates as one of only two cooperatively structured orchestras in the U.S. – with musicians at the heart of the organization. The Syracuse Orchestra currently reaches more than 100,000 Central New York community members of all ages through more than 50 concerts each year in venues large and small, including a summer season of up to 10 free outdoor performances in parks throughout the region.
Our mission is to engage and inspire community members throughout CNY through outstanding orchestral and ensemble performances, and innovative education and outreach initiatives.
MARKETING, including managing social media, post-concert surveys and analysis, website updates and content enhancement, materials distribution, and targeted audience development;
DEVELOPMENT, including donor and sponsor benefit fulfillment and tracking, event coordination and support, on-line foundation and corporate research, and database support;
CONCERT PRODUCTION, including assisting with concert set-up and strike, hospitality for guest artists and conductors, and a variety of pre- and post-concert responsibilities;
EDUCATION & OUTREACH, including communicating with area educators, assisting with the development and distribution of program materials, research and development of program assessment tools, and on-site support for Syracuse Orchestra outreach initiatives.
MUSIC LIBRARY, including preparing music for distribution, expanding our music library database, ordering, copying, and bowing parts, and assisting Syracuse Orchestra’s music librarian as needed.
The successful candidate(s) will demonstrate a commitment to excellence, and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team. Interns must demonstrate excellent organization skills, computer literacy in all standard programs (graphics expertise a plus), attention to detail, and well developed communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. The Syracuse Orchestra offers a flexible schedule, with a minimum commitment of at least 10 hrs/wk.
TO APPLY
Interested candidates please email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 references to: Pamela Murchison, Executive Director, at PMurchison@SyracuseOrchestra.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
If you are interested in volunteering as an usher for our Spark, Casual or Kids concerts, please contact us at Info@SyracuseOrchestra.
CURRENT EMPLOYEES
Resources for current employees can be found HERE