Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley is seeking an Assistant Conductor, Training Division Director for the 2026-2027 Season.
Position Overview
A member of Cantabile’s artistic team, the Assistant Conductor (AC) works closely with the Associate Conductor and reports to the Artistic Director. The AC is a dynamic choral conductor, expert teacher, and passionate educator with an excellent record of cultivating the vocal and musical skills of children ages 5-12 with diverse musical abilities, skills, and experience.
The AC is responsible for curriculum, administration, repertoire, and performance of Cantabile’s Training Division (singers ages 6-11). The AC plans, develops, and teaches the Training Division Summer Camp and manages Cantabile’s Fall Retreat. The AC acts as manager of off-site collaborations with professional arts organizations.
The AC will work a hybrid on-site (Los Altos, CA)/remote schedule. Rehearsals currently take place during the week, in the afternoon and evenings. Although Cantabile maintains regular business hours, rehearsals, performances, and other educational and concert programming often take place in the evenings and on weekends. The anticipated start date is July 15th, 2026.
Other responsibilities include working collaboratively with the Associate Conductor and Artistic Director to select repertoire; cultivating relationships and communicating with Cantabile families; communicating and working with the collaborative pianists and guest musicians; and modeling the skills necessary to be a professional performer.
- Bachelor’s degree in music education, choral conducting, or music performance, or the equivalent
- Minimum of three years of successful experience teaching music to children, and experience cultivating vocal and musical skills in students of elementary school age
- Orff and Kodály training with successful teaching application
- Exemplary personal musicianship, vocal and conducting skills, and classroom management
- Intermediate keyboard/accompaniment skills
- Experience in teaching a wide variety of music styles
- Demonstrated ability to work collegially with children, parents, and organizational staff
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously using professional judgment, discretion, and tact
Administrative skills that include: music preparation, parent communication, registration, attendance, etc.
Intermediate proficiency in office software (Microsoft or Google), including email, word processing, and spreadsheets
- Previous experience in an arts nonprofit organization.
- Experience integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into organizational decision-making.
This position performs its duties in an indoor rehearsal and stage environment. You must be able to perform the following duties with or without accommodation:
- Stand, sit, kneel, walk, bend, and perform repetitive motions for the duration of an assigned shift.
- Ability to regularly use multiple modes of transportation to travel to job-related meetings, rehearsals, performance and events, both nationally and internationally.
- Traverse safely throughout each facility leased by Cantabile
- Safely lift, move, and transport items weighing up to 25 lbs. in and out of vehicles.
- Communicate in a clear speaking voice to instruct classes
Please apply by visiting our applicant website here. Please include a cover letter, resume, a short performance and rehearsals video link, and a copy of a recent concert program.
Due to our size and the increased demand for our services, we are unable to take phone calls about this position, nor sponsor visas at this time.
About the Organization
Serving over 200 students ages 6-18 in five tiered levels, Cantabile Youth Singers has been under the artistic direction of Elena Sharkova since 2004. Cantabile brings world-class artistic excellence in vocal music instruction to the youth of Silicon Valley by creating a supportive, enriching choral community for all, fostering the innate beauty, talent, and individual freedom of expression within each singer, and engaging them in performances of the highest caliber.
Recent accomplishments include performances at the ACDA National Conference in Kansas City, gold medals at the European Choir Games in Sweden, The Magic Flute and La Boheme with Opera San José, The Lord of the Rings, Carmina Burana, and Music of Studio Ghibli concerts with Symphony San Jose, concert tours of Australia and New Zealand, and the world premiere of the commission We Are the Garden by Jocelyn Hagen at Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall.
EEO Statement
Cantabile believes that all individuals deserve to be always treated with respect and dignity. To that end, Cantabile provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Cantabile complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
