Ravinia is both North America’s longest-running music festival and its most artistically diverse. Over 100 different events by a mix of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B, indie, and country performers make up a typical summer season on our two open-air and two indoor stages. Each year the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is featured in six weeks of concerts, many with Chief Conductor Marin Alsop. During the same summer months, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute provides young professional classical and jazz musicians with career-advancing training and concert settings. Offstage and year-round, Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play education programs engage 75,000 children and adults—in schools with little to no music curriculum, in our Chicagoland communities, and at our 36-acre park—in our mission to make music equitably accessible to all.

This role is a part-time, hourly instructional employee position that averages 6-10 hours per week.  Sistema Ravinia programming runs throughout the school year and 3 weeks during the summer. 

The String Associate Conductor leads rehearsals for multiple levels of elementary and middle school string ensembles in the Sistema Ravinia Lawndale nucleo. The children in our program receive little to no music instruction outside of Sistema Ravinia. The administrators, conductors, and instructors are responsible for providing a comprehensive music education program. Sistema Ravinia uses a collaborative leadership approach that solicits input from students, families, instructors, artistic and administrative leadership. Team members will inspire participating students and are responsible for maintaining a standard of excellence. The String Associate Conductor reports to the Program Manager and works closely with the Artistic Manager. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Lead string rehearsals and sectionals, incorporating music theory, with high expectations for musical excellence
• Collaborate with the Sistema Ravinia team to create innovative curriculum and pedagogy and implement shared ideals 
• Develop lesson plans that promote social and musical growth
• Co-facilitate weekly instructor team discussions with Artistic Manager, creating action plans and ensuring that teams are adhering to curriculum
• Participation in faculty professional development sessions is required
• Support daily logistics including recording attendance, snack, and student transitions
• Communicate student behavioral, musical, and social challenges with administration and artistic management
• Foster student empowerment and facilitate the holistic education of each child
• Conduct regular informal and formal assessments of student musical growth
• Lead full orchestra in the event of an absence of the Artistic Manager

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead and conduct large groups of children
• Knowledge of beginning to intermediate instrumental fundamentals, pedagogy, and theory
• Enthusiasm for El Sistema and its philosophy of social change through music
• Interest and ability to be a motivational mentor and role model for students, parents, and community
• Superior interpersonal skills

Education and Experience

• Strong background in conducting, string repertoire, curriculum, pedagogy, and music education at the 4th-8th grade level
• Experience working with young children, youth orchestras or in the El Sistema music education model
• Bachelor’s degree in music or 2-3 years related work experience 

Work Environment

• Working at Frazier International Magnet School (4027 W Grenshaw, Chicago, IL 60624) 
• Working three-four days per week (Program hours*: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 2:15 - 5:00pm, plus a one hour team meeting each week on Tuesdays, 1:15 - 2:15pm)
  • *Hours are subject to change based on program need and school schedule
• Some additional days, evenings and weekends required for concerts, special activities, and meetings 
• Ability to travel to the Kehrein Center for the Arts (5628 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60644) for large orchestra rehearsals combined with the Sistema Ravinia Austin nucleo
• Interaction with young students, parents and administrators where the safety of the students is paramount

Compensation: $60 per hour for instructional time and $25 per hour for non-instructional time (meetings, professional learning, and curriculum development)

Please submit the following to apply:

• Cover letter and Resume
• Provide a sample video conducting an ensemble (preferably youth) 
  • If a public video link is not available, please upload the video to Youtube privately and include the link in the cover letter.

About the program

Sistema Ravinia is an intensive orchestral music education program that provides daily music training for students at two schools in the Lawndale community.  Participating students meet daily throughout the year at their nucleo (program site) and are taught in sectionals and full orchestra. Shaped by the philosophy of the noted El Sistema model, Ravinia has embraced the notion of transforming groups of children into communities of musicians who in turn transform their communities.  Students receive mentorship from teachers and administrators that make them feel loved and valued as an asset to their nucleo community.  

Sistema Ravinia Lawndale launched in 2020 at Gregory Elementary and Frazier International Magnet. Students from Gregory Elementary learn band instruments and students from Frazier International Magnet learn string instruments.  Students meet at their individual schools three to four days per week with several opportunities each year to combine with our other program sites in Austin and Lake County, rehearsing and performing as a full symphony orchestra. Sistema Ravinia Lawndale looks forward to continuing program growth and excellence as we welcome a new cohort of 4th/5th grade students each fall, providing music education through the 8th grade at their school.

Ravinia is an Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, Ravinia strongly believes that diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is essential to our success and we strive to create and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment for all our employees. Ravinia does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.