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Work With Us

We're always looking for exceptional and dedicated people to join our team.

For 70 years, Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir) has worked to inspire, unite and change the lives of youth through music.
 

What began as a small choir in Hyde Park born in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement to foster racial understanding has since grown into a nonprofit with an international footprint that is Chicago’s premier arts education and performing organization. Uniting Voices Chicago serves every corner of Chicago through a vast network of 140 choirs whose singers bridge cultural and economic divides to become ambassadors for peace.

Open Roles

 

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to jobs [at] unitingvoiceschicago [dot] org, with the job title in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

What it's like to work at Uniting Voices Chicago

Sincerely, we’re a family. We get it done while having fun. At Uniting Voices Chicago, we’re all working toward a colorful, peaceful, equitable future—and that feels good. We share a passion for music and the vast potential of young people.

In addition to work you can believe in, Uniting Voices Chicago offers the following perks:

  • Unlimited paid time off, including 8 state holidays and company-wide two week winter break.

  • An array of health insurance options with generous subsidy of premiums. We also offer vision plans, short and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.

  • A retirement plan with matched contributions up to 3 percent after a year of employment.

  • A pre-tax commuter program that allows you to save on public transportation and parking.

  • And more!

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About Uniting Voices Chicago

Uniting Voices Chicago provides transformative programs through partnerships with over 80 schools, 12 community-based after-school music programs, Dimension, an ensemble for singers with changing or changed voices, and the world-renowned Voice of Chicago. As a national and international touring ensemble, Uniting Voices Chicago has performed for dignitaries such as former President Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and former Chinese President Hu Jintao and with artists such as Chance the Rapper, Yo Yo Ma, Andrea Bocelli, Beyoncé and Celine Dion.

Uniting Voices Chicago is a civic treasure and model for urban music education with more than 75 percent of youth able to access its programming free of charge.

“OTR” Life Experience

We know that many of your most character-building experiences — where resilience, grit and grace were required to persevere — do not show up neatly on a resume. So, we want to hear some of those “OTR” (“off the resume”) moments for you. In order to be on the Uniting Voices Chicago team, EQ (Emotional Intelligence) is not a nice-to-have…it’s a must. So, show us your EQ.

A Not-So-Fun Fact:

We know research tells us that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60 percent of the criteria, women and people of color tend to only apply when they feel they’ve checked every single box. If you are unsure that you’ve checked every box in these descriptions, but you think you have what it takes to enhance Uniting Voices Chicago as we grow our team—we want to hear from you.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Uniting Voices Chicago is an equal opportunity employer that actively pursues candidates of diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training to all employees, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, nationality or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, age, medical condition, disability, or veteran status in admission or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities.

Conductor (Full-time)

Uniting Voices Chicago employs music educators to provide choral-based programming in partnership with nearly 90 schools and 12 community-based programs across the city serving children and youth from 3rd grade through high school with weekly or biweekly rehearsals throughout the school year. All programs perform independently 2-3 times per year in addition to joint concerts connecting Uniting Voices Chicago singers in performance. Additionally, 1st and 2nd grade children may participate in an 8-week exploratory music program called Prelude at a few sites around the city.

The Uniting Voices team of conductors work with each other and outside clinicians/culture bearers to create a diverse set of repertoires to ensure a curriculum rich in historical context and presented with cultural integrity, appropriate to the authentic style of each piece. Conductors lead their assigned groups in addition to supporting the artistic vision of the organization through participation in planning committees and regular conductor team connections.

The Conductor provides a high-quality learning and performance experience for youth ages 6 to 18. As a faculty member with Uniting Voices, the Conductor will create meaningful opportunities for young people to express themselves, learn music authentically from an array of genres and cultures, develop their musical and performance skills, and build emotional intelligence. The Conductor will elevate the artistry of their ensembles and encourage deep exploration of the historical and social context of music and its relevance today. In addition, they will thoughtfully engage their community and build participation and retention in their programs.

This role includes approximately 50% teaching hours; 40% planning, preparation, and community engagement, and 10% travel time. Full-time teaching hours cover up to 16 different school or community sites where programming takes place.

Key Responsibilities

Musical and Educational

  • Facilitate student learning in assigned choirs, incorporating the curriculum set forth by Uniting Voices faculty in addition to self-selected repertoire.
  • Teach choral music through a lens of cultural responsiveness and authenticity, maintaining a dedication to equity and anti-racism.
  • Seek and facilitate mission-aligned and community-based performance opportunities for singers.
  • Lead all rehearsals and performances for designated ensembles.
  • Maintain rigorous learning and performance standards.
  • Administer singer assessments twice yearly and use associated data to inform instructional practice.

Community Engagement, Communication, and Relationship Building

  • Communicate regularly with school and community partners to ensure the best possible experiences for all stakeholders.
  • Communicate effectively with families to foster deep and meaningful relationships with Uniting Voices.
  • Recruit singers for participation in programs, maintaining an ensemble size that allows for a successful experience
  • Educate families on opportunities for growth within the choir and assist with promotion into more advanced ensembles when appropriate.

Organizational Support and Administrative

  • Actively participate in meetings, professional development workshops, and staff training as scheduled.
  • In collaboration with the Senior Program Director, support the Program Assistant in delivering the best experience possible
  • Attend and assist with organizational concerts and events.

 

Qualifications:

  • Strong choral music educator and conductor capable of teaching diverse music through culturally responsive methodologies.
  • Dedication to anti-racism and equity.
  • Passion for working with diverse youth ages 6-18 and for fostering deep and authentic relationships with their families and communities.
  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in music.
  • Commitment to collaboration in a team of fellow music educators, as part of a larger organizational staff and with families and community partners in a mission-driven environment

Program Assistant (Part-time)

Program Assistants for Uniting Voices Chicago serve a vital role as part of our program team. They have the unique opportunity to work with singers in Neighborhood Choir Programs throughout the city of Chicago, inclusive of families from a wide variety of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Program Assistants are responsible for all non-musical aspects related to the Neighborhood Choir(s) to which they are assigned. Program Assistants work closely with the Conductor of their Neighborhood Choir to gather important information that is then communicated to singers and their families. Program Assistants are present for all rehearsals, concerts, and events related to their Neighborhood Choir. Program Assistants play a vital role in engaging with the community that they serve. Currently, Uniting Voices Chicago has openings for a Program Assistant in the following communities: Hyde Park, Austin, Englewood, Prelude (Lincoln Park and Hyde Park); preference will be given to applicants who are familiar with or connected to this community.

Uniting Voices Chicago Neighborhood Choir Programs

The Neighborhood Choir program provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced choral training to over 800 students with treble voices in 3rd grade and up through programs in 12 Chicago neighbourhoods. Neighborhood Choirs meet two times per week, with some programs having one weeknight rehearsal and one Saturday rehearsal, while others have two weeknight rehearsals. Program Assistants provide regular coverage for all assigned choirs and attend all concerts and events. Office hours are also scheduled to complete administrative tasks.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement, Communication, and Relationship Building

  • Be a strong advocate and ambassador for the mission and legacy of Uniting Voices Chicago by welcoming new families, maintaining strong relationships with current families, assisting with recruitment, and attending community events.
  • Supervise singers before and after rehearsals to ensure all singers are safe and well-behaved.
  • Supervise singers’ arrival and dismissal at all rehearsals and concerts. Plan to arrive thirty minutes prior to rehearsal and leave thirty minutes after rehearsal ends.
  • Communicate regularly with community partners to ensure the best possible experiences for all stakeholders.
  • Send weekly emails to families with pertinent information such as schedules and upcoming events.
  • Assist with tour accounting and attend the annual tour in the Spring. Tours are National and usually span three to four days.
  • Distribute flyers for fundraisers, events, and other Uniting Voices Chicago activities.
  • Communicate effectively with families to foster deep and meaningful relationships with Uniting Voices Chicago.
  • Maintain strong relationships with singers and families to ensure continued participation throughout the year. Give detailed reports when a singer discontinues participation.

Organizational Support and Administrative

  • Collect and track registration and attendance, and report updates to the conductor and office regularly.
  • Create monthly calendars in a timely manner, submit to the office and conductor for edits, and distribute paper and digital copies to families.
  • Actively participate in weekly Program Team meetings
  • Communicate regularly with the Program Team to ensure equitable experiences amongst all programs.
  • Attend and assist with organization-wide events.
  • Collect payments for tuition, fundraising, and tour from singers, issue receipts, and deliver to the main office. Keep accurate records of all transactions.

Qualifications

  • Passion for working with diverse youth ages 8-18 and for fostering deep and authentic relationships with their families and communities.
  • Experience working with children and youth from diverse backgrounds is preferred.
  • Strong understanding of Google Suite, specifically Google Docs and Google Sheets.
  • Commitment to collaboration in a team, as part of a larger organizational staff and with families and community partners in a mission-driven environment.
  • Dedication to anti-racism and equity.
  • Creativity, flexibility, self-motivation, energy, and enthusiasm for this vitally important work.