Musical Director

Musical Director

Various schools across Hampshire

£18,709 - £20,588 pa (For a candidate who is not a qualified teacher this will comprise a salary of £12,069 per annum and an additional permanent allowance of between £6,640 and £8,519 per annum)

Part-Time, Permanent

Ref: HCC603230

Start date: 1 May 2023.

The Role:

Hampshire County Council's Music Service are looking to recruit a highly experienced orchestra conductor with a wide and substantial knowledge of symphonic repertoire, composers, and their works to direct the highly successful Hampshire County Youth Orchestras ensemble pyramid.

The Hampshire County Youth Orchestras (HCYOs), who have recently celebrated their 50th anniversary year, give music students the opportunity to perform in renowned concert venues such as the Anvil, Basingstoke and the Royal Albert Hall in London, and around the world through their impressive overseas tour tradition.

The HCYO pyramid consists of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra - a 100-piece Symphony Orchestra, a String Orchestra for younger players, and a Chamber Orchestra of players drawn from the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra who can explore different repertoire, from contemporary music to baroque playing techniques.

HCYO has won many friends around the world with regular tours that have included South Africa and Chile, as well as regular visits to European destinations as far as Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. The first post-COVID visit was a tour to France and Spain in summer 2022. HCYO also has a long-standing musical partnership with the Liebigschule in Gießen, Germany, with regular music exchanges and joint music performances. The next collaboration will take place in Gießen, during the 2023 February half term break. You will continue this dynamic and exciting work by having the musical expertise to interpret, rehearse, and deliver authentic and credible performances of large-scale symphonic works that require a highly analytical and knowledgeable approach.

As well as conducting the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, you will be accountable for the team of staff and ensembles within the entire pyramid. It is therefore essential that you have the skillset to manage a 5-hour fortnightly rehearsal for a group of 100+ young people within a Symphony Orchestra setting and have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the orchestral instrumental families.

Membership of the ensembles is open to any Hampshire resident in full time education. Rehearsals are held at Thornden Hall, Chandler's Ford and the orchestras hold a week-long residential course during the Easter holiday at Bryanston School in Dorset. During the year, players receive expert coaching from professional musicians as well as instrumental workshops and masterclasses as part of the wider range of opportunities through Hampshire Music Service. 

In this role you will demonstrate your ability to monitor the ensemble budget, and making day-to-day financial decisions regarding purchases, additional staff costs, and budgeting for concerts, residentials, and tours. You will also ensure that appropriate communication systems are in place for keeping staff, ensemble members, and their parents/carers briefed on all relevant issues pertaining to the ensemble activities and ensure that administration requirements are fulfilled efficiently. 

To see HCYO in action please see the links below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5enzF8N0JU&t=22s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI0UhCNooxI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9xwFa_JsY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijJA8YXVDRg

Additional Information:

Please visit our website for the Musical Director Job Description & Person Specification.

Repertoire expectations for HCYO during a normal year.

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a criminal records check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Jon Cranston, Deputy Head of Service, jon.cranston@hants.gov.uk or 02380652037.

To apply:

To apply, please click on the ‘apply’ button.

Closing date: 5 February 2023.

Interview date: 25 February 2023, Thornden Hall.

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.